PANRB Ministry issues regulation to sharpen the merit system

Jakarta — The Deputy Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Purwadi Arianto, said that the Ministry has issued Ministerial Regulation PANRB No. 19/2025 to strengthen the merit system and talent management. ‘This ministerial regulation is set to ensure the realisation of the Aparatur Sipil Negara (ASN) who are integrit y, professional, neutral, and free from corruption, collusion, and nepotism (KKN), and capable of implementing policies and delivering public services effectively,’ Purwadi said in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday. He made the remarks when opening the Socialisation of PermenPANRB No. 19/2025 on the Implementation of the Merit System in ASN Management to All Local Governments at the PANRB Office. The issuance of PermenPANRB is part of the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2025–2029 concerning the development of human resources (SDM) of the apparatus. Purwadi stated that sharpening the implementation of the merit system will be achieved through five measures. First, strengthening the eight aspects of the merit system comprehensively and integrated across the entire ASN management cycle, from planning to digitalisation. Second, there is a shift in the orientation of measuring the maturity of the merit system by focusing measures on the simultaneous dimensions of availability, quality, and utilisation. Third, the merit system index will be produced more objectively, supported by instruments like ASN satisfaction and engagement surveys and considering corrective factors. ‘This is to ensure the measurement index is strictly and proportionally filtered,’ he said. Fourth, going forward the merit system will be strongly integrated with talent management, making it a foundational instrument in filling posts, developing careers, and succession planning based on the best talent within the agency. Fifth, or last, strengthening the merit system will also be supported by the digitalisation of ASN management and more objective oversight. ‘With this sharpening, the merit system is expected to no longer be perceived as merely an administrative compliance task, but truly an instrument with an impact on improving the quality of ASN performance and organisational performance,’ Purwadi said. Purwadi went on to say that on various occasions the President has given directions regarding bureaucratic reform, particularly in the human resources aspect. The President has given particular attention to strengthening the management of ASN. In line with the President’s directives, the National Bureaucratic Reform Master Plan (DBRBN) 2025–2045 sets the vision of World Class Bureaucracy 2045. This vision affirms the commitment to building a collaborative, capable, and integral bureaucracy to support Indonesia Emas 2045. In that framework, one of the main targets is the creation of civil servants who are competent and high-performing based on the merit system. ‘The target is clear. All government agencies are in the leading category in the Merit System Index by 2045. In other words, the merit system is not just a personnel management instrument but the foundation for building ASN quality nationwide,’ he emphasised. Deputy Minister Purwadi added that the framework ultimately aims at the quality of ASNs to be achieved in 2045, namely ASNs who have integrity, adaptability, and competence. ‘This quality must be ensured through objective and consistent management of the ASN, including through the implementation of the merit system in regional governments,’ he added.