Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) stated that the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical factors affected the government's policy regarding increasing the salaries of officers of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri).
The president made the statement after inaugurating a toll road in Depok City, West Java, on Monday.
"If our fiscal is in a position of (being) pressured by external (factors), such as COVID-19, trade wars, and geopolitics, that are not making it possible (to increase the salaries), (then) it is impossible for us to do all," he explained.
The president stated that increasing the salaries of Polri and TNI officers as well as civil servants should be carried out through careful consideration of the dynamic fiscal and economic situation of the country.
On that occasion, Jokowi ensured having approved an increase in the TNI and Polri officers' salaries that would take effect in the near future.
"I hope it can improve the welfare and the purchasing power and will also impact our economy," he remarked.
Earlier, presidential candidate Anies Baswedan raised the topic of the increase in TNI officers' salaries at a presidential debate in Jakarta on Sunday (January 7).
Baswedan noted that during the administration of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), the increase in TNI salaries occurred nine times. Meanwhile, during the administration of President Jokowi, the increase occurred thrice.
From 2006 to 2014, the increases in the TNI and civil servants' salaries are: 15 percent each in 2006 and 2007; 20 percent in 2008; 10 percent each in 2009, 2011, and 2012; five percent in 2010; seven percent in 2013; and six percent in 2014.
During the period from 2015 to 2024, the increases recorded are six percent in 2015, five percent in 2019, and eight percent in 2024.
The Jokowi administration introduced the 14th salary or the religious holiday allowance (THR) in 2015. During the 2015-2017 period, civil servants and TNI-Polri officers received the THR every year. The amount was equal to their basic salaries only, without other allowances.
However, during the 2018-2019 period, the amount of THR increased, namely equal to their salaries, including other allowances.
In 2020-2021, the THR was only equal to basic salaries. Thereafter, in 2022-2023, the amount of THR was equal to the basic salaries plus 50 percent of the performance allowances.
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Translator: Andi F, Rangga P, Raka Adji
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
