Medan DPRD Deputy Chairman Ihwan Ritonga Highlights PHL Salary Reduction: Don't Sacrifice Them

Ihwan Ritonga

MEDAN - Deputy Chairman of the Medan DPRD Ihwan Ritonga Medan is worried about the policy of reducing the honorarium for temporary daily employees (PHL) of all regional apparatus organizations (OPD).

"I think that Circular No.900 / 0647 regarding the Medan City Government PHL Honorarium in 2021, which is imposed by all OPDs, is too forced," Deputy Chairman of the Medan City DPRD Ihwan Ritonga told reporters, Friday, February 19.

The issuance of this circular, continued Ihwan Ritonga, was accompanied by a decision on the nominal amount of honorarium to be received by PHL staff every month and referred to the burden of the 2021 APBD.

This policy is without considering the conditions of the burden of economic hardship, especially the family of a PHL worker who was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since last year.

According to the circular PHL honorarium in 2021 amounting to Rp. 3 million, then Rp. 187 thousand for BPJS Employment and Rp. 150 thousand for BPJS Kesehatan is deducted, so that PHL gets an honorarium of more than Rp. 2,662 million per month.

"But it also needs to be considered, namely a sense of humanity. Not only because of the calculation of APBD expenditure, the community is being sacrificed," said Ihwan.

"In the midst of difficult economic conditions and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic that has occurred, the burden of the Medan City APBD is indeed very large. But we also need to consider humanity. Not only because of the calculation of APBD expenditures, casual daily workers (PHL) will be sacrificed, "continued Ihwan Ritonga who is also the Head of DPC Gerindra Medan.

The Regional Secretary for Medan City, Wirya Alrahman, said that there is no regulation regarding the increase in PHL honoraria following the city minimum wage (UMK).

"PHL is a worker who is appointed by means of a budget user decree, and does not have special expertise in carrying out their duties," he said.