By: Alfisyah Kumalasari )*
Simplification of the bureaucracy was one of President Jokowi’s priority programs in the second period of his leadership. Simplification of regulations in various sectors is believed to be able to improve the professionalism of ASN and realize a world-class Government posture.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized that in the government he was running in his second period there could not be any kind of delay. He wants acceleration in everything.
To accelerate the simplification of the bureaucracy the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB) encourages all leaders of government agencies to carry out strategic and concrete steps.
This was stated in the Circular Letter (SE) of the Minister of PAN-RB number 384, 390 and 391 of 2019 addressed to the Minister of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet, the Governor, and the City Walis and Regents on strategic and concrete steps for simplifying the bureaucracy.
Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian appealed to the provincial government to immediately simplify the bureaucracy in administrative positions.
This was stated in Minister of Home Affairs Letter Number 130/13989 / SJ dated December 13, 2019, regarding the simplification of bureaucracy in administrative positions in the provincial government environment sent to the Governor of Maluku, Murad Ismail.
The letter specified which positions were retained and which were simplified. Simplification of the bureaucracy has been initiated by two ministries namely, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Service Utilization and Bureaucratic Reform.
Administrative positions that are affected due to bureaucratic reform are echelon III and IV officials, both echelons are transferred to functional positions in accordance with their functional assignments and functional positions by taking into account the position levels, class positions and income of the functional officials concerned.
However, the simplification of bureaucracy in supervisory positions (echelon IV) does not apply to positions that have duties and functions as heads of work units with authority and responsibility in the use of the budget and the use of goods / services, positions that have the function of functions related to authority / authority, legalization, approval of document approval or territorial authority.
If the bureaucracy is cut, what will be the impact? Maybe this question often inhabits people’s minds.
One thing is certain, this simplification of bureaucracy will have an impact on budget efficiency, if there is a cheaper one, why not?
In addition, the existence of bureaucratic reform will also speed up decision making, especially when granting licenses. Moreover, most investors who want to invest their capital in the provincial or district / city government must go through a convoluted bureaucracy. As a result, investors can leave and choose to invest in other regions.
Previously, the Minister for Empowerment of State Civil Apparatuses and Menpan-RB Bureaucratic Reform. Tjahjo Kumolo said his ministry in simplifying the bureaucracy would still pay attention to the welfare of the State Civil Apparatus (ASN).
According to him, structuring large countries like Indonesia needs a long process that starts with bureaucratic reform, one of which is by simplifying echelon positions and adjusting employee welfare.
That was said by Tjahjo in a Working Meeting (Raker) of the House of Representatives Commission II with the Ministry of National Education and RB and the State Personnel Agency (BKN), at the Parliament Complex.
Tjahjo said, one of the efforts of the PAN-RB Ministry in the process of simplifying the bureaucracy was to finalize a new payroll and pension system.
According to him, this will be done in a joint meeting with Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani and Minister of Home Affairs Tito Karnavian.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission II Arif Wibowo considered the simplification to be carried out carefully and to pay attention to the amount of performance allowances, pension benefits and other benefits so as not to reduce ASN income.
On different occasions, the Head of the State Administration Institute (LAN), Adi Suryanto, assessed that the simplification of the bureaucracy was a necessity in realizing fast and professional public services. LAN has also conducted various studies to accelerate the simplification of bureaucracy in order to achieve world-class bureaucracy.
For this reason Adi reminded that there was something urgent to do immediately, namely to make adjustments to the patterns and methods of capacity building and ASN competence.
At present LAN is developing a quick and effective way to overcome competency gaps that may arise after echelon III and IV positions are revoked, namely by identifying and mapping competency standards for each functional position.
Besides that, it is also necessary to have a coaching and mentoring process from the staffing supervisors of each agency.
This simplification process is certainly a necessity as well as a challenge for the government, but this must still be sought for the progress of Indonesia.
)* The author is a social political observer