Gov’t clears way to hire temporary teachers

JAKARTA: State Administrative Reforms Minister Azwar Abubakar said on Tuesday that work had been completed on a draft government regulation (PP) on civil service recruitment.

The regulation will serve as legal basis for the government to convert temporary workers into permanent civil servants (PNS).

Azwar said the government would issue the regulation in two weeks at the earliest.

The draft, which included input from many teachers, would soon be forwarded to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Azwar said.

“We have discussed the draft with the temporary teachers. We will hand over the draft to the President on Wednesday and the State Secretariat will introduce the draft to related ministries,” Azwar told journalists at the State Administrative Reforms Ministry as quoted by kompas.com.

Azwar made his statements after meeting with representatives from teachers’ associations and temporary teachers to discuss recruiting temporary teachers as permanent civil servants.

Separately, Indonesian Teachers Association (PB PGRI) chief Sulistiyo said he hoped the government would quickly pass the regulation.

Thousands of temporary teachers protested in front of the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, urging the President to immediately sign the PP draft.