Purbaya Surprised by Higher Salaries for Tax ASN Compared to Other Ministry of Finance Employees

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has revealed a salary disparity within the Ministry of Finance. As is known, salaries for civil servants (ASN) or employees of the Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) are higher compared to employees in other directorates. Purbaya recounted that when the DJP was short-staffed, he transferred employees from the Directorate General of Treasury (DJPb) to Taxes. “I moved someone from Pak Prima’s place (DJPb) to Taxes. But the first impression from the Taxes people was ‘Huu, mine is higher’. This (is because) the salary in Taxes is higher,” he said during the inauguration of the Ministry of Finance’s Secretary General on Friday (27/3/2026). Regarding this difference, Purbaya admitted he was surprised. He then offered a solution to avoid the disparity. The solution: either lower the salaries of Taxes employees or raise the salaries of other Ministry of Finance employees. “Do we cut or raise the others?” Purbaya said jokingly. Officials at echelon I level in the Ministry of Finance, including DJP Director General Bimo Wijayanto, appeared to laugh at Purbaya’s solution. “Yes, two choices, we equalise: cut the Taxes one or raise all the others?” Purbaya then asked Budget Director General Luky Alfirman: “Does Pak Luky agree?” “Pak Luky definitely doesn’t agree because of budget issues… everyone can protest to Pak Luky later,” Purbaya said while laughing.