Needs Still in the Thousands, Ministry of Religious Affairs to Place Two Chief Marriage Registrars in Each Province

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) is striving to evenly distribute chief marriage registrars (penghulu utama) across every province as part of strengthening career progression through the arrangement of functional positions and fulfilling the gap in registrar needs.

“One of the steps being prepared is the placement of chief marriage registrars at the provincial level, with a plan for a minimum of two positions in each province as part of enhancing the strategic role of marriage registrars,” said Director of the Development of the Office of Religious Affairs (KUA) and Harmonious Family at Kemenag, Ahmad Zayadi, in Jakarta on Thursday (2/4/2026).

Zayadi explained that there is a disparity between the current number of marriage registrars and the ideal national requirement, amounting to 16,237 individuals. Based on the existing conditions in 2026, the current number of marriage registrars is recorded at 11,918, consisting of 10,706 Civil Servants (PNS) and 1,212 Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK).

“In the next four years, 1,850 marriage registrars will enter retirement, with details as follows: 300 in 2026, 463 in 2027, 508 in 2028, and 579 in 2029,” said Zayadi.

He stated that Kemenag continues to maintain intensive communication and coordination with the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB) to discuss strategic steps in fulfilling registrar needs.

According to him, several options are being evaluated, including the opening of civil servant candidate (CPNS) positions on an ongoing basis up to mechanisms for transitioning positions into the Functional Position (JF) of Marriage Registrar through the inpassing scheme. “There are several options being studied to ensure the availability of competent human resources in every service line,” he said.