What they say about civil servants' pay

What they say about civil servants' pay

JAKARTA (JP): The following are some comments about civil
servants' pay.

Hamzah Haz, a senior legislator from the United Development
Party: This will be the first time ever the government involves
the House of Representatives in planning pay hikes. The move is
strategic and democratic. The increase should be at least 10
percent so that civil servants and ABRI members can keep their
present purchasing power.

Sri Edi Swasono, a bureaucrat: It is all good news because
prices have substantially increased since the last time the wages
of civil servants and ABRI members were raised. Let's see if
House members really fight to have the salaries raised.

A.A. Baramuli, a legislator and businessman: We need a huge
budget increase to raise the salaries of 4.5 million civil
servants and soldiers.

A more effective way to improve bureaucracy would be to trim
their numbers and reform their organizations. Their numbers can
be cut to two-third or even a half. I am sure this is feasible.
Those who lose their jobs under an early retirement scheme can be
accommodated in state firms.

Analis Widodo, 29, a Jakarta civil servant: I am truly
disappointed to hear that our pay hike is yet to be discussed.
Our salary is so small. We, who live in cities like Jakarta, can
barely make ends meet. Many civil servants have to moonlight
often at the expense of their state duties. My monthly salary is
Rp 131,000 and I earn over Rp 500,000 from my side jobs.

Ida, 37, a nurse at Jakarta's Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital and
mother of two: I'm optimistic the government will raise our
salaries as they usually do almost every year. My monthly Rp
352,000 basic salary is not enough to support my family. It's a
good thing that my husband also has a job.

Kissin Wijaya, 48, a civil servant and father of seven who
earns Rp 210,000 a month: I think salaries should be increased.
It's up to the government to decide by how much it should be
raised.

Edi Priyanto, 34, unmarried civil servant in Central Java: I
hope the government will increase our salaries. Next year will be
OK if this year's financial condition doesn't allow it. My Rp
130,000 monthly salary is just too small. I have to do small
business to make ends meet.

Fatimah Achmad, senior legislator from the Indonesian
Democratic Party: The pay hike is important. But it is also
important that the government control market prices. Any pay
increase, no matter how large, will be meaningless if prices are
going up. That is what has been happening all this time.

Oka Mahendra: A House member from the ruling Golkar party:
Civil servants and ABRI members's welfare are often overlooked.
The growing public demand for good service should be accompanied
by better attention to their well-being. The financial problem
that the government always use as an excuse not to raise their
salary can be solved by improving efficiency and freezing new
recruitment for a certain period.

Soerjadi, a deputy House Speaker: The government's plan to
involve the House in the planning improvement of civil servants
and ABRI members' welfare is something positive. It means that
the government is beginning to listen to the House.

Any plan to raise salaries will always faces problems because
prices will soar before the decision is announced. It is
necessary to look for ways to solve this problem. Small salaries
tempt employees to turn to corrupt practices. With adequate
salaries, employees will not have to look for side jobs and
neglect their work at their offices. (pwn/01/mds/rid/04/pan)