Government Fights for Fulfillment of Lecturers’ Rights with the Best Allowance Payment Strategy
By: Elisabeth Titania Dionne )*
The government continues to strive to ensure the welfare of educators by developing the best strategy for lecturer allowance payments. Concrete steps have been taken through the submission of a budget of IDR 2.5 trillion to the DPR, as well as the completion of the harmonization of the Presidential Regulation (Perpres) regarding the payment of performance allowances (Tukin) which is now awaiting the approval of President Prabowo Subianto.
This effort is real evidence that the government is not only committed to fulfilling lecturers’ rights, but also maintaining the principles of transparency and accountability in every process. The strategy that has been developed not only considers the budget aspect, but also the effectiveness of the disbursement so that lecturers can receive their rights in accordance with applicable regulations.
The Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek), Stella Christie, emphasized that the disbursement of Tukin cannot be done unilaterally. Synergy between various ministries and institutions is a key factor in realizing these payments.
Since the establishment of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, the commitment to fight for allowances for lecturers has been a top priority. However, the regulations governing its disbursement must still be adhered to so that decisions taken can be carried out in accordance with the principle of justice.
Each stage of the disbursement of allowances must go through a strict administrative process, so as not to cause problems in the future. The government continues to coordinate with various parties to ensure that these payments can be made without significant obstacles.
Lecturer welfare is one of the government’s priority policies, as conveyed by the Director General of Higher Education, Prof. Khairul Munadi. The government has prepared several funding schemes for Tukin in 2025, with three options proposed: IDR 2.8 trillion for a sufficient scheme, IDR 3.6 trillion for a moderate scheme, and IDR 8.0 trillion for a complete scheme.
However, in a meeting with the DPR on January 23, 2025, the Ministry of Finance finally approved a budget of IDR 2.5 trillion. The budget is allocated for ASN Lecturers at PTN Satker, PTN BLU that have not implemented remuneration, and ASN assigned to LLDIKTI, with a total of 33,957 lecturers receiving the allowance.
This policy shows that the government is not only fighting for the rights of lecturers, but also managing state finances effectively and efficiently in order to meet the various needs of other sectors.
The bureaucratic process in the disbursement of Tukin is also a serious concern for the government. Prof. Johannes Gunawan, as the Minister’s Expert Team, explained the stages that must be taken before the allowance can be received by lecturers.
The proposal for the lecturer’s job class must be submitted by the Minister of Higher Education to the Kemenpan-RB, which then issues a letter of approval regarding the job class. After that, approval of the amount of Tukin must be obtained from the Minister of Finance before finally compiling a Presidential Regulation as the legal basis for its disbursement.
After the Presidential Regulation is issued, the Minister of Higher Education will issue special regulations regarding the Tukin disbursement mechanism within his ministry. With a clear procedure, it is hoped that the disbursement of this allowance can run in accordance with existing regulations and avoid potential administrative problems.
The government’s decision to approve a budget of IDR 2.5 trillion for 2025 is a step forward in improving lecturers’ welfare. However, it is important to understand that the disbursement mechanism for this allowance must still follow applicable bureaucratic procedures.
Therefore, all parties are expected to be patient and not be influenced by issues that have the potential to mislead. Inaccurate information regarding Tukin payments will only create confusion among lecturers and the wider community.
The government also emphasizes the importance of educating educators regarding this policy so that there are no misunderstandings that can hinder the implementation of allowance payments.
One aspect that needs to be considered is the importance of clear and transparent communication from university leaders to lecturers. The government expects that all information conveyed to lecturers can be in accordance with established policies.
Thus, misunderstandings regarding the Tukin payment mechanism can be avoided, and the implementation process can run more smoothly. In addition, the involvement of university leaders in providing accurate understanding to lecturers also plays an important role in ensuring that this policy can be implemented properly.
Collaboration between various parties is a key factor in ensuring that the disbursement of allowances can be carried out efficiently and effectively.
