Salary hike doesn't help?

From Pikiran Rakyat

As a small income worker I thank and salute members of the House of Representatives for their pledge to fight for an increase in civil servants' wages. However, I would be more thankful if they promised to fight price hikes, which will inevitably take place following the announcement of their pledge.

I get the impression that our legislators are concerned only with civil servants. If so, who will represent the interests of fisherfolk, farmers, private employees and construction workers?

A big salary is meaningless if the purchasing power remains low or becomes even lower.

The ratio between salaries and the current level of prices, is no longer rational for certain income groups. A salary hike is not the only solution, especially if we expect to see professionalism in the ranks of the civil servants.

Many parties would surely give the thumbs-up if civil servants could stay away from corruption, collusion and nepotism. Rather than having a standard basic salary for all civil servants (for instance those of III A category receive a certain amount), it would be better to have a minimum and maximum level, based on merit, which would provide motivation. A rise in civil servants' wages would not have to be announced publicly and price hikes would be avoided.

The salary of civil servants may be increased by 100 percent and this will be borne by the people. However, those working in the private sector will not be in the same boat because their salary hike must be proportional to the benefits received by their companies. Things will be even more different in the case of farmers, fisherfolk and other workers on low incomes.

T. MULYADI

Bandung