Many Village Head Term Extensions, How Much is the Village Official Salary?

Hundreds of village heads protested, demanding a revision of Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning Villages on Tuesday (17/1). In the protest, which took place in the courtyard of the DPR RI building, the village heads requested that the revision of the law pay more attention to improving the welfare of village heads, especially regarding their term of office, extending it from 6 years to 9 years.

The protest was responded to by Abdul Halim Iskandar, Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions, and Transmigration. He stated that he would fight for the extension of the village head's term to 9 years. Halim believes that village heads will perform their duties more effectively if their term is extended.

"The community benefits from this situation. And equally important, the community doesn't need to face unproductive tension too often," said Halim, as quoted from the official Kemendes website on Wednesday (18/1).

Gus Halim stated that the extended term would allow village heads to better understand the situation in their communities. Furthermore, conflicts that might arise from friction of interests resulting from village head elections could be minimized.

The issue of village head tenure remains a public discussion. Besides that, what is the actual salary of village heads and other village officials?

Article 81 paragraph 1 of Government Regulation (PP) No. 11/2019 states that fixed income is provided to village heads, village secretaries, and other village officials, budgeted in the Village APB sourced from ADD (Village Allocation Fund).

Paragraph 2 of the article reads: the regent/mayor determines the amount of fixed income for the village head, village secretary, and other village officials, with the following provisions:

a. The amount of fixed income for the village head is at least Rp2,426,640.00 (two million four hundred twenty-six thousand six hundred forty rupiah), equivalent to 120% (one hundred and twenty percent) of the basic salary of a Civil Servant of rank II/a;

b. The amount of fixed income for the village secretary is at least Rp2,224,420.00 (two million two hundred twenty-four thousand four hundred twenty rupiah), equivalent to 110% (one hundred and ten percent) of the basic salary of a Civil Servant of rank II/a; and

c. The amount of fixed income for other village officials is at least Rp2,022,200.00 (two million twenty-two thousand two hundred rupiah), equivalent to 100% (one hundred percent) of the basic salary of a Civil Servant of rank II/a.

Meanwhile, paragraph 3 of Article 81 states that if the ADD is insufficient to fund the minimum fixed income of the village head, village secretary, and other village officials as referred to in paragraph (2), it can be fulfilled from other sources in the Village APB besides Village Funds.

"Further provisions regarding the amount of fixed income for the village head, village secretary, and other village officials as referred to in paragraph (2) are regulated and determined by the Regent/Mayor Regulation," reads paragraph 4 of Article 81.