MenPAN RB Make Sure There Are No Mass Layoffs For Honorary Workers In November 2023

Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (Menpan RB) Abdullah Azwar Anas In Denpasar, Bali

DENPASAR - Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) Abdullah Azwar Anas confirmed that there will be no mass layoffs of honorary workers in November 2023.

Azwar explained that the number of non-state civil servants (ASN) in Indonesia currently reaches 2.3 million people. However, after cutting or layoffs since 2007 the number has not even decreased.

"Our current ASN is 2.3 million after we calculate. (Section) of administration of 735 thousand, imagine that our administration is still high even though the digital is still running. If we check digital spending, friends, it's still running but the technical staff is still going up. It means, this is an anomaly and we have to arrange this gradually," said Azwar in Denpasar, Bali, Monday, September 4.

He explained, in 2007 in the layoff stage I from 860 thousand non-ASN only 60 thousand remained. In 2018 there were 444 thousand non-ASN and currently it has reached 2.3 million.

"We see that in 2007 we have arranged, the layoffs I out of 860 thousand are only 60 thousand. Then 2012 did not pass 438 thousand, 2017 and 2018 we saw that we left 444 (900) in 2018. In 2018, the decision was no longer allowed. there is an honorary PP (Government Regulation). Then the time of the last five years in 2023 is November," he said.

"So we were given the last five years of the November transition next year and it turns out that after we recorded it, instead of reducing from 400 thousand (now) 2, 3 million. This is the problem today to handle this," he continued.

He also stated that the Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, also conveyed to him many times that if the provisions for non-ASN reductions were carried out according to the provisions in 2023, many honorary staff would be dismissed.

"Mr. Koster also conveyed many times to me that if this is carried out according to the provisions of 2023, in November it will be noisy because it means that all honorary ones must be dismissed. The number in Bali is quite large in districts and cities, because if this is done in the future it will be noisy," he said.

In addition, his party also admitted that there are many district and city heads in Indonesia who convey the same thing.

"There are many districts and cities that convey the same thing, but now we have to stop and there should be no recruitment that we have to fix. In the end, we went to the President and several decisions emerged, one of which was that we avoided mass layoffs," he said.

"But there is no budget swelling and they still get the same income and so on. This is our commitment, so on November 28, God willing, there will be no noise because there will be no mass dismissal like the rules.

"But the regents are now not allowed to recruit carelessly and that must be obeyed according to the provisions," he said.

KemenPAN RB has also met with regents and mayors to find solutions to this and within regional head associations they have agreed to find the best option on it.

"And we are finalizing the ASN Law which we are currently resolving. So the first question of non-ASN is directed by the President so that there are no second mass layoffs, there is no budget swelling, the third is no decrease in income," he said.