Government Ensures Honorary Workers and Tuition Fees Not Affected by Budget Efficiency

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The government emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto's instruction to streamline the budget will not affect lecturer allowances, scholarships, or tuition fees. Efficiency measures are also assured not to impact contract workers. There will be no termination of employment or layoffs for contract workers.

The statement was delivered by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani while clarifying several circulating issues related to the impact of state budget efficiency alongside the leadership of the House of Representatives at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Friday (14/2/2025).

In addition to Sri Mulyani, State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi, and the Deputy Speakers of the House of Representatives, including Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, Adies Kadir, Saan Mustopa, and Cucun Ahmad Syamsurijal, were also present.

Dasco stated that clarification by Sri Mulyani is needed to avoid misinformation regarding budget savings. Moreover, there are several circulating issues, such as the impact of budget efficiency resulting in the dismissal of honorary workers and the revocation of scholarships for students currently studying abroad.

"To clarify perceptions so that there is no confusion among the public. There are several points that our constituents have questioned to the DPR," said Dasco to Sri Mulyani in front of the media.

The policy of budget cuts in every ministry/agency and local government and reallocating it for the priority programs of Prabowo's administration, as is known, is a follow-up to Prabowo's order through Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2025. In that regulation, all ministries and agencies as well as local governments are asked to streamline the budget by up to Rp 306.7 trillion.

"We ensure that the efficiency measures or in this case the reconstruction of the budgets of ministries and agencies do not affect honorary workers. So, there will be no layoffs," said Sri.

Sri also ensured that the performance allowances of 97,734 lecturers from four categories of lecturers at state universities would continue to be disbursed.

The four categories of lecturers in question, lecturers from State Universities with Legal Entities (PTN-BH) which he said have and continue to receive performance allowances according to standards. Then, lecturers for Public Service Institution Universities (PTN-BLU) which have implemented a remuneration system, their lecturers have also received remuneration or performance allowances.

In addition, Sri emphasized that lecturers at PTN-BLU who have not implemented the remuneration system will receive the same allowance. The remuneration will also be received by lecturers from PTN Work Units (PTN-Satker) and Higher Education Service Institutions (LLDIKTI) while still paying attention to professional allowances.

"So, they have received professional allowances, but not performance allowances or remuneration. We are currently processing the calculation and data collection, the Presidential Regulation is also in the process of being finalized and will be completed in the near future," he explained.

In addition to allowances for lecturers, Sri also emphasized that campus operations, tuition fees, and scholarships would not be affected. She always emphasized that the ministry's efficiency criteria were more directed at official travel, seminars, office stationery, and ceremonial events.

"The efficiency of higher education is also only affected by the item. This (efficiency) step should not. I repeat, it should not affect the decision of higher education institutions regarding UKT (Single Tuition Fee), which in this case will only be implemented for the new academic year 2025/2026, namely in June or July," he said.

The government will continue to examine in detail the operational budget of universities so that it is not affected. This is done so that the implementation of university duties and community services can run according to the mandate.

The Indonesia Smart Card (KIP) Scholarship is also confirmed to not be affected by efficiency. Sri stated that the recipients of the KIP scholarship in the 2025 budget year reached 1.04 million with the amount of funds allocated reaching Rp 14.6 trillion. "This budget is not affected by cuts and is not reduced," he said.

A total of 40,030 scholarship recipients from the Education Fund Management Institute (LPDP), the Indonesian Education Scholarship from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and the Indonesia Bangkit Scholarship under the Ministry of Religious Affairs are also certain to continue to receive their rights. "It will continue to run according to the scholarship contract that has been made," said Sri.

He ensured that his party will continue to monitor the steps of each ministry and institution to implement efficiency and budget reallocation. The spirit to carry out budget efficiency will also be maintained for the sake of good bureaucracy.

"Later we will see from these steps, especially from the speed of making further purchases. Actually, building the spirit of efficiency will be maintained because it is considered important for the implementation of good bureaucracy," said Sri.