DPR-Government Agree on Police Bill to Set Retirement Age at 59 and 60 Years

Commission III of the DPR and the government agreed on the Draft Law (RUU) on Amendments to Law Number 2 of 2002 concerning the National Police regulating the retirement age of police officers is 59 and 60 years.

Deputy Minister of Law Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej said the retirement age of 59 years applies to personnel with the rank of private and soldier, while the limit of 60 years applies to first officers, middle officers, and high officers.

"Especially for high-ranking officers of the four-star rank, the retirement age is at most 60 years old and can be extended for a maximum of one year according to the needs set by the presidential decree," said Eddy, his nickname, in a meeting of the Working Committee (Panja) of the Police Bill in the DPR building, Jakarta, Monday, June 8, reported by ANTARA.

The regulation regarding the retirement age of the members of the National Police is contained in the list of inventory of problems (DIM) of the National Police Bill number 55 new substance regarding the dismissal of members of the National Police with respect to their positions.

He explained that the government differentiated the retirement age of Polri members based on their rank to maintain personnel motivation. In addition, if it is not differentiated, there will be an imbalance in working time between ranks.

"If everything is equal to 60 years, in fact what happens is demotivation. The soldiers and non-commissioned officers will say 'We don't need to go to school for officers, so the retirement is the same as officers, 60 years'," said Eddy.

"If all 60 years, the working life of the ordinary soldier is much longer than that of the officer. You can imagine, at the age of 18 you can be a soldier-commoner, [working] until [age] 60, which means that his working life is 42 years, while the officer who has a higher school has a shorter working life. That is why there must be a separation," he added.

In addition, the government is also guided by the retirement age gradation that applies to other state civil servants (ASN). "We who have an academic background, if we are not doctors, then lecturers are finished at 60, doctors at 65, professors at 70 years old," he said.

According to him, this difference in the retirement age limit is to maintain personnel motivation.

"So there will be motivation for the soldiers if they want to be 60 years old, yes, please go to school. So this is more about what a healthy competition among members," said Eddy.

Meanwhile, regarding the selection of the maximum retirement age of 60 years, the government pays attention to the aspect of internal regeneration.

"Why are we not 63, but then a maximum of only 61? This is a question of regeneration itself in the body of the National Police. This is a fairly comprehensive consideration, by looking at the burden of duty, looking at how it is in the field so that we separate it into 59 and 60," he said.

Legislators had a debate with the government regarding the retirement age. The Chairman of Commission III of the DPR RI, Habiburokhman, for example, asked for the retirement age of the members of the National Police to be standardized at 60 years.

"Enough, it's the same 60. Do you agree to 60 years?" said Habib.

However, Eddy emphasized that the retirement age of Polri members needs to be differentiated.

Habib then asked, "Is there a problem with the budget, isn't it? If 60 is all from the budget, is that so?"

Eddy answered, if the retirement age is equal to 60 years, the development in the Polri body will be disrupted.

"If it's all 60, it could be zero growth because it must be proportional between retirement and those who enter. If all of them are extended to 60, it will be a problem for the budget and then recruitment will stagnate. So that's why there must be a difference," explained the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs.

After the debate, legislators expressed their agreement with the government's proposal.

"Okay, yes, follow the government, yes," said Habib.

Thus, this policy is a new provision. In Law Number 2 of 2002, the retirement age of the police is a maximum of 58 years and for members with special expertise and are in great demand can be maintained up to 60 years.