By: Hasna Miftahul )*
The Indonesian government has once again demonstrated its serious commitment to improving the justice system through concrete steps that have been awaited by many parties. President Prabowo Subianto’s decision to increase judges’ salaries by 280 percent is part of a comprehensive effort to strengthen the integrity of the judiciary, while also making law enforcement in Indonesia a main pillar of national development. This policy is not just a financial incentive, but also a form of institutional strengthening that is much needed.
The issue of judges’ welfare has long been a topic that has been rolling amidst issues of corruption and low public trust in the justice system. In this context, the government’s steps through salary increases cannot be separated from strategic efforts to rebuild public trust in the legal world.
The head of state firmly stated that increasing the welfare of judges must be a new foundation for the birth of a clean and authoritative judicial apparatus. In its implementation, this policy is also most significantly aimed at junior judges who have been considered the most vulnerable to the temptation of deviation.
The Judicial Commission (KY) through its chairman, Amzulian Rifai, welcomed the policy and assessed that this initiative reflects the state’s concern for judicial integrity. This salary increase is considered an important step to encourage the presence of judges who are not only technically competent, but also strong in moral integrity.
With the existence of a large incentive, KY is of the view that there is no longer any justification for deviations under the pretext of limited welfare. The judicial supervisory institution also hopes that the Supreme Court will be more assertive in prosecuting violations, by implementing the principle of zero tolerance for judicial corruption practices.
The Supreme Court, through its spokesperson, Yanto, also expressed its appreciation for the policy. According to him, increasing welfare is a real form of government attention that has never happened in the last 18 years. The Supreme Court hopes that this significant incentive can be an encouragement for judges to enforce the law with more focus and without the interference of economic pressure.
The Supreme Court emphasized the importance of a simple lifestyle among judges and avoiding a luxurious lifestyle that could harm the authority of the judicial institution. Support from the state, in the view of the Supreme Court, must be reciprocated with high moral and professional responsibility.
On the legislative side, Deputy Chairman of Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Dede Indra Permana, emphasized that the President’s decision to increase judges’ salaries reflects political courage in upholding the supremacy of law. According to him, this step was taken amidst the budget efficiency policy that is being implemented in almost all government sectors.
This salary increase shows that the government places the judiciary as a top priority for development. He believes that improving welfare must be the starting point for comprehensive reform of the judicial system, including in case management and the quality of legal services to the community.
Dede also believes that ongoing parliamentary oversight of the judicial institution is important. Commission III of the DPR is committed to encouraging reform and innovation in the case management system.
For him, improving welfare must go hand in hand with improving the performance, professionalism, and accountability of judges. Judges, as the main actors in the law enforcement process, must appear to be the hope for the community who have longed for clean and integrity justice.
With support from all parties, this policy is now part of a national movement to build a strong, fair, and clean legal system from deviant practices. This policy also restores the dignity of judges as guardians of justice, who not only play a legal role, but also become ethical role models in society.
Of course, welfare is not the only answer to the complexity of challenges in the world of justice. However, in the context of Indonesia today, the increase in judges’ salaries by the government is an important and symbolic step.
President Prabowo Subianto has placed the judicial institution in a strategic position, in line with the big agenda of bureaucratic reform and national law enforcement. The public now has reason to believe that strengthening the legal system is no longer just a discourse, but has been followed up through policies that are biased and measured.
The welfare of judges is not just a matter of numbers on paper, but the foundation of a reliable legal order. With increased salaries, economic pressure on judges will be reduced, and the temptation to deviant practices is expected to be reduced.
But on the other hand, this is also a test for judges throughout Indonesia, whether they are able to repay the trust of the state by upholding justice purely. The government has provided real support, and now it is time for the justice system to show the results.
Furthermore, this salary increase is expected to attract more of the nation’s best legal talents to join the judicial institution. So far, the profession of judge is often seen as less attractive than other sectors that offer higher compensation.
With competitive incentives, becoming a judge is now not only an idealistic choice, but also a realistic one in terms of welfare. This is important to ensure the regeneration of quality and highly dedicated judicial apparatus. In the long term, this policy can also narrow the gap between the judiciary and other law enforcement institutions, such as the prosecutor’s office or the police.
)*Contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute
