Elegy of the Fate of PPPK in Southeast Sulawesi: Not Getting Paid, Also Entangled in Debt

The polemic surrounding the appointment of prospective civil servants (ASN) and Government Employees with Work Agreements (PPPK) has led to prolonged consequences. The fate of the candidates who have been declared successful now hangs in the balance. After no longer receiving salaries, they are now burdened with debt and forced to face a bleak future, with only a few years remaining before retirement.

On the steps of the Southeast Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives building, La Lintasi (50) attentively followed the speeches of several of his colleagues on Monday (10/3/2025). Occasionally, he shouted to voice his aspirations. He was disappointed when the government had yet to confirm his and thousands of others' graduation.

La Lintasi, along with her colleagues, is part of the Forum for Solidarity of CASN/PPPK 204 Phase 1 Southeast Sulawesi. They are among the 1.2 million prospective ASN and PPPK who have been declared successful in the selection process since the end of 2024.

"We have been working the longest, almost 20 years, yet when there is an appointment, it is still not ratified. Even though we have not been paid since January because our names were no longer extended as contract workers," lamented the father of five children.

Since January, he stated, he had been seeking loans from relatives to cover his needs. Moreover, he had to handle the completion of documents as a PPPK employee who had been declared successful.

He requires a Police Clearance Certificate (SKCK), personal and family data, and other documents. Just for processing the files and documents, he has to spend Rp 1 million.

Lintasi has been working as an honorary employee at the Southeast Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Sultra) since 2008. As a driver, his initial salary was Rp 250,000, which gradually increased to Rp 1.5 million.

The salary was used to meet household needs. To support life, the wife helped sell in her modest house. The house was also built in stages over dozens of years along with the income received.

"Now I help out as a personal driver because I no longer receive a salary. However, every day I still come to the office to seek information regarding this appointment. It should have been calculated starting from March 1. Now it has been postponed until next year," he added.

Nina (51), not her real name, experienced a similar fate. He said that he had been an honorary employee since 2000 or 25 years ago.

He first worked at a school as an administrative staff with a starting salary of Rp 75,000. After decades of work, his last salary was Rp 1.5 million.

When the announcement of graduation as a PPPK worker at the end of last year, he was overjoyed. The reason was, for years he had always failed the selection.

However, in early March 2025, he and all other PPPK throughout Indonesia were disappointed again. His appointment was postponed by the state.

"We only have seven years left to become ASN. If it is postponed, how many years are left? Every year we take care of the files hoping to pass. After graduating, now it is postponed again. We are really being wronged," he said.

Hasrawati (47), another honorary worker, said that the journey to becoming a PPPK was like a lifelong struggle. During her 20 years of service, she always dreamed of becoming a civil servant. She remains grateful for passing the work agreement model employee.

After the announcement of graduation, he took care of many required documents. All of his files have been completed since last February.

"I spent around Rp 1 million just to take care of it, going here and there, photocopying and so on. Many friends are in debt, especially those who are no longer paid because they were declared to have passed," he said.

Action coordinator Zainal Saputra said that this action was a response to government policies that were not in favor of CASN and PPPK. The appointment should have started in March 2025, not October or the following year.

Hundreds to thousands of his colleagues are confused by the government's decision. Some of them no longer receive salaries because their contracts have ended. Not to mention, a number of PPPK candidates who are elderly and nearing retirement.

"Many of our colleagues are five to two years away from retirement. If it is postponed until March 2026, they will lose one year as ASN. For people at the central level, it may be small, but for us it is very valuable," he said.

"What's worse is that there are legislators from the Southeast Sulawesi region who also signed the postponement agreement," he added.

Therefore, he rejected the decision of the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform regarding the postponement of the appointment, and urged consistency with the previous schedule.

In addition, his party also asked the Southeast Sulawesi Provincial Government and local governments to continue paying honorary salaries until there is a letter of appointment.

The Chairman of the Southeast Sulawesi DPRD, La Ode Tariala, said that the issue of appointing CASN and PPPK was something that should not happen. His party immediately sent a statement of position to the central government so that this could be followed up and there would be a better decision.

According to Tariala, his party will also immediately hold a hearing regarding the issue of honorary salary payments. "In the next few days we will call the relevant agencies to discuss honorary employees whose contracts were not extended because they passed the PPPK. In essence, the Governor of Southeast Sulawesi has also given directions to pay immediately if the regulations are in accordance," he said.

The controversy over the appointment of government employees continues to roll. The government's decision makes the public restless.

Moreover, there are at least 1.2 million CASN who are still unable to get clarity regarding their appointment. Based on data from the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, these CASN consist of 248,970 CPNS and 1,017,111 PPPK candidates.

In fact, Menpan and RB Rini Widyanti stated that the simultaneous appointment will be carried out on October 1, 2025 because this process takes time. "It must be done carefully and cautiously," said Rini. (Kompas, 9/3/2025).

For La Lintasasi, and other prospective employees, they want a government that is consistent with the initial decision. "I have made a nameplate, bought a pin because I thought I was going to be appointed. If this continues, I don't know where to meet my needs. If I am appointed, I will only retire in seven years," he said.

When they are no longer young, the protesters asked the state to keep its promises. If it continues like this, they will only be friends with anxiety in old age.