Will Be Removed In 2023, Regional Secretary Claims 7,000 Honorary Fees Will Not Burden The Riau Islands Provincial Government

Illustration of non-state civil servants (ASN) or government honorary employees. (Between)

KEPRI - Regional Secretary (Sekda) of the Riau Islands Provincial Government (Kepri) Adi Prihantara said that it was not easy to lay off honorary workers, which numbered in the local environment as many as 7,000 employees.

Adi assessed that their existence so far has helped local governments in serving the public.

He also claimed that the thousands of honorary employees did not burden the Riau Islands provincial government budget, because every year it was already budgeted according to the applicable rules and mechanisms.

"We certainly don't want the policy to abolish honorariums, it will trigger an increase in the open unemployment rate," said Adi in Tanjungpinang, quoted by Antara, Friday, June 10.

Adi stated that the regional government cannot deny the issuance of a circular letter from the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform regarding the elimination of honorary workers next year. Moreover, the law that regulates the prohibition of the appointment of government honorary staff has been in effect for a long time.

However, he said, on the other hand, the government must also find the best solution for honorary workers, especially those who have served five to 10 years. For example, being accepted as a government employee with a work agreement (P3K) or CPNS through a series of selections.

"We continue to propose the formation of P3K and CPNS to the central government, but the quota is indeed limited. Because that is their authority," he said.

Furthermore, the former Secretary of the Bintan Regency, asked the honorary staff in the Riau Islands Provincial Government not to panic over the issue of the elimination of honorariums.

He ensured that the provincial government would find a way out, one of which was by writing a letter to the central government to maintain government employees without violating applicable regulations.

"We also invite the media/press to give advice on this issue. It doesn't make honorary workers even more restless with the policy of eliminating honorariums," he said.