TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform's (PAN-RB) decision to postpone the start date for the 2024 newly recruited civil servants (CASN)  has drawn widespread criticism.

According to the latest announcement, the employment of civil servants, originally scheduled for March 2025, was delayed until October 2025. Similarly, the start date for the government contract employees (PPPK), initially planned for October 2025, was moved to March 2026. The government's stated intention is to conduct these employment simultaneously.

Robert Na Endi Jaweng, a member of the Indonesian Ombudsman, argued that simultaneous CASN employments are not necessary if they prove impractical. This marks the first time the government has planned to conduct these employments concurrently. Previously, they were carried out based on the needs of individual institutions or regions.

"The government should not create unnecessary complications. These complications are self-inflicted unless there is a significant reason," he stated at the Ombudsman building on Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Robert acknowledged that he sees no substantial justification for the postponement unless the government justifies it by citing the need for time to organize data and staffing. Even in that case, the employments should be completed by June 2025 at the latest.

He pointed out that the CASN recruitment process has reached the administrative stage, not the substantive stage, and therefore, should not require extensive time. "Is there another reason, suspected by some, that budgets are being shifted or adjusted for efficiency? The government must be transparent with the public," he said.

The Ombudsman has received 50 complaints regarding the CASN start date postponement. Robert also reported receiving complaints from regional heads, who are concerned about the impact on public services.

Previously, PAN-RB Minister Rini Widyantini explained that the postponement was intended to ensure a uniform Starting Date (TMT) for all CASN.

To alleviate public frustration and disappointment, Robert urged Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) to re-summon the PAN-RB Minister and for the Head of the National Civil Service Agency (BKN) to establish a new agreement.

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