COVID-19 Funeral Officers At OKU Sumsel Haven't Received Honors Since 2021

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BATURAJA - The COVID-19 funeral officer in Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra, admitted that he had not received any honorarium or wages for digging the graves of victims who died due to COVID-19 since 2021.

According to Suroso, a funeral director for COVID-19 victims in Baturaja, he and 10 colleagues have not yet received the full wages paid by the OKU Regency Government through the local Social Service.

As the funeral team, especially gravediggers for COVID-19 victims, they work based on the OKU Regent's Decree and are promised an honorarium of 400 thousand per person for each funeral.

"Based on our records throughout 2021, we have carried out 98 funerals," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, August 19.

Of this number, the team of funeral workers has only received an honorarium of 50 times for the burial of victims who died due to COVID-19.

"We have often visited the Social Service to ask this question, but the answers given are not satisfactory. We just want to be sure whether the rest of the honorarium is paid or not," he said.

Meanwhile, the deputy chairman of the OKU DPRD, Yudi Purna Nugraha, said that based on the results of the Hearing Meeting (RDP) with the OKU Social Service previously it was decided that the payment of honorarium for the tomb digging team would still be paid this year.

"For the payment of the remaining honorarium for COVID-19 funeral officers, it will be budgeted in the Revised Budget for 2022," he said.

The same thing was conveyed by the Head of the OKU Social Service, Syaiful Kamal who also confirmed that there were still responsibilities that had to be completed even though the COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down.

"We and the members of the council have agreed to be paid in the 2022 APBD Amendment. However, we ask that the budget submission process will be properly escorted by the OKU DPRD so that it can be realized," he said.*