Minister Of Religion Proposes An Increase In Honor Of Non-PNS Religious Extensions

JAKARTA - Minister of Religion (Menag) Yaqut Cholil Qoumas submitted an additional proposal on the 2024 budget ceiling of Rp. 17,483,954,274,000 which included an increase in honorarium for non-civil servant religious instructors in a working meeting (raker) with Commission VIII of the DPR.

"We need to convey that the proposed additional budget for 2024 is included in fulfilling the Ministry of Religion's plan to increase the honorarium for non-civil servant religious instructors from Rp. 500,000 to Rp. 1,500,000 per month," he said in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Thursday, August 31.

Currently, said Yaqut, the Ministry of Religion's budget ceiling in 2024 is IDR 72,166,256,418,000.

The ceiling value, he said, was in accordance with the Joint Letter of the Minister of Finance No. S-626/MK.02/2023 and the Minister of National Development Planning/Head of Bappenas No. B.644/M.PPN/D.8/PP.04.02/07/2023 dated 31 July 2023 concerning the Ministry/Institutional Budget Ceiling and Special Allocation Funds for FY 2024, as well as the Settlement of the Ministry's Work Plans and Budget/Institutions for the 2024 FY.

"The Ministry of Religion's 2024 budget ceiling will be used to finance various programs and activities covered by two functions which are the duties of the Ministry of Religion, namely the Religious Function and Education Function," said the Minister of Religion,

Yaqut said the Education Function budget was IDR 60,605,230,250,000.000 or 83.98 percent of the total 2024 budget ceiling.

The budget, he said, would be used to increase the accessibility and quality of public education with religious characteristics, religious education in public education units, religious education, and increase the relevance of education with the needs of the community and the competitiveness of religious higher education institutions.

Yaqut explained that the budget for Religious Functions is IDR 11,561,026,168,000 or 16.02 percent of the total 2024 budget ceiling, as a budget used in the implementation of national development in the religious field.

"Hopefully with the support, cooperation, and attention of the leadership and members of Commission VIII DPR RI, we can realize efforts to improve the quality of life services and religious harmony, the quality of religious and religious education, and the quality of good governance within the Ministry of Religion," he said.