Salaries of civil servants

Salaries of civil servants

From Suara Karya

We, civil servants and pensioners, would like to express our concerns and disappointment. Recently, in April 2001, we learned that there would be no increment in our salaries, while those of the speakers of the House of Representatives (DPR) and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) along with their members have been raised three times since last January.

According to the statements made by the economics minister last January and Vice President in March, the salaries of civil servants and pensioners will be increased 15 percent effective April 2001, and will include the arrears for January, February and March, which will be paid in a lump sum.

Apart from that, to improve the standard of living of civil servants and pensioners, the MPR/DPR apparently plans to increase our salaries twice a year until 2004.

All those promises, however, still remain a day dream, as we still live a difficult life, hardly able to make ends meet as prices of daily necessities have been skyrocketing, coupled with the 50 percent to 100 percent hike in fuel prices.

If these conditions continue and are not addressed, hardship might drive civil servants to engage in corruption, theft, and even robbery. Communal strifes would be rampant and might threaten national unity.

Many suspect the MPR, DPR, President and Vice President and Cabinet members are only thinking about themselves and ignoring the plight of the people. The recent sharp increase in their salaries would suffice to testify to their indifference to the people's sufferings.

We hope, given that the price of fuel has soared 50 percent to 100 percent, salaries of civil servants and pensioners will increase between 100 percent and 200 percent, or more, of their basic salaries. If the state budget is unable to cover this, the social security net funds could be another alternative to resort to.

SM SYUAIB

Donggala, South Sulawesi