TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The provincial government of Bengkulu decided to stop paying regional allowance (TD) for civil servant (PNS) this year. Acting Regional Secretary of Bengkulu Province Sudoto said that the decision was due to lack of regional budgets. In addition, Sudoto said that Bengkili civil servants had already received their fourteenth salary.
"Regional allowance has the same function as the fourteenth salary, that has already been withdrawn a couple of months ago," Sudoto said on Monday, September 26, 2016. Therefore, Sudoto confirmed that the Bengkulu provincial government will not include regional allowance in the 2016 Revised Regional Budget (APBD-P) currently being drafted.
Sudoto explained including the allowance and the 14th salary in the regional budget would create an overlap in the regional finances. In addition, Sudoto said that the fund is needed for developments in other sectors.
The regional allowance policy was enacted by the region's previous governor. The allowance's value is the same as a civil servant basic salary and will be paid in the middle of the year together with the payment of their 13th salary.
Following the plan to terminate the allowance, Bengkulu Regional Representatives Council (DPRD) had received a number of protest from civil servants.
"This budget will be discussed in the APBD-P, we hope that regional executives would not feel necessary to stop the regional allowance payment," says Helmi Paman, a member of Bengkulu DPRD.
PHESI ESTER JULIKAWATI
