Pramono: Civic Organisations Must Not Extort Business Owners Over Festive Allowances

Jakarta — The period leading up to Lebaran is traditionally associated with the distribution of festive allowances (Tunjangan Hari Raya/THR) to workers. However, various parties operating under the banner of civic organisations (ormas) have frequently engaged in illegal levies (pungli) under the pretext of collecting THR from business owners.

Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that the current atmosphere in Jakarta is relatively conducive. He therefore expressed confidence that coercive levies disguised as THR collection requests from business owners would not occur.

“For business owners, if I may suggest, since this is Jakarta, particularly as we maintain the positive conditions we have achieved, hopefully once again, there will be no coercion from civic organisations or anyone else to demand THR,” he said at RSKD Duren Sawit on Tuesday (10 March 2026).

Previously, photographs of several THR collection letters from various civic organisations and other parties to business owners circulated on social media. The incident was reportedly discovered in the Kalideres area of West Jakarta.

In the photographs, several names of major civic organisations within the community appeared on the letterheads. Additionally, there were receipts issued as evidence of THR requests for Idulfitri 1447 H.

The amounts of THR being requested varied considerably. Some parties demanded 200,000 rupiah in THR contributions, whilst others requested amounts as high as 500,000 rupiah.

Republika has also previously questioned several business operators directly about the practice of illegal levies disguised as THR collection. Multiple business operators acknowledged that they are almost always visited by civic organisations demanding THR contributions ahead of Lebaran.