Lessons Drawn from Commotion over Regional Holiday Allowance

Overall, the state has allocated Rp 35.7 trillion for the Lebaran holiday allowance plus the 13th salary for officials/civil servants and pensioners, which marks an increase of 69 percent from last year.

KOMPAS/DIDIE SW

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Hardly ever causing serious problems in the past, the Lebaran holiday allowance (THR) for civil servants has sparked a public controversy this year. Overall, the state has allocated Rp 35.7 trillion for the THR plus the 13^th salary for officials/civil servants and pensioners, which marks an increase of 69 percent from last year.

People have been protesting in a number of regions to express their objection to the issuance of new regulations with financial, administrative and even legal implications.