Sukmo Yuwono representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the judicial review hearing of the State Treasury Law for case No. 184/PUU-XXII/2024, Monday (6/23/2025). Photo by MKRI/Panji.
JAKARTA (MKRI) — The living allowances for staff members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs assigned overseas consists of several components. These include the basic foreign placement allowance (ADTLN), which is determined through an agreement between the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA). In addition, there is the foreign allowance rate (APTLN), which is regulated under a presidential regulation. This regulation stipulates the civil servant rank levels, which serve as a multiplier factor applied to the APTLN.
This explanation was provided by Sukmo Yuwono on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to the claims made by retired civil servants of the Ministry, who are challenging the constitutionality of Article 40 paragraphs (1) and (2) of Law No. 1 of 2004 on the State Treasury. The judicial review hearing for case No. 184/PUU-XXII/2024 took place on Monday, June 23, 2025, presided over by Chief Justice Suhartoyo along with the other constitutional justices in the plenary courtroom.
Sukmo Yuwono provided an illustration of allowances for a civil-servant counselor assigned to Singapore, who would receive a rate of 78. This number serves as the multiplier for the APTLN.
“For example, 78% times 9,500 equals a basic allowance of USD 7,410. If [the staff is] accompanied by a spouse, an additional 15% of the basic allowance is added, calculated as 15% x 7,410 = 1,112. Then, an allowance for up to two children is provided, each at 10%, or 20% x 7,410 = 1,482. Therefore, the total take-home pay basic foreign placement allowance plus spousal and child allowances would amount to USD 10,004 per month,” he explained.
Sukmo Yuwono elaborated further that a housing allowance is granted to home staff, ranging from 25% to 40% of their take-home pay. For postings in the most expensive cities, such as New York or Hong Kong, the allowance is set at 40%, while for medium-priced cities, such as Ho Chi Minh City, it is set at 25%. Meanwhile, home staff assigned to official compounds are not eligible for the housing allowance but are required to pay 10% of their take-home pay as a maintenance contribution or for utility expenses.
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The petition case Number 184/PUU-XXII/2024 filed by several retired civil servants of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), who used to be stationed overseas. They are Kusdiana, Hari Budiarto, Khaerul Anwar Bratawijaya, Hari Tjahyono, and Sarwono.
At the preliminary hearing on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Petitioners conveyed their challenge against the provisions on payment of domestic basic salary over time contained in the provisions of Article 40 paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) of Law No. 1 of 2004. They believe that these articles are in conflict with Article 1 paragraph (3), Article 28D paragraph (1), Article 28D paragraph (2), as well as Article 28I paragraphs (4) and (5) of the 1945 Constitution.
They argue that the suspension of domestic basic salaries to civil servants in government agencies, in this case MoFA, began with the issuance of Circular Letter (SE) No. 015690 on October 16, 1950. This regulation became the basis for the non-payment of domestic basic salaries for MoFA employees. The suspension was based on the limited supply of foreign exchange, and the policy was enforced while waiting for a definitive decision.
In their petitums, the Petitioners ask the Constitutional Court to declare Article 40 paragraphs (1) and (2) of the State Treasury Law unconstitutional and not legally binding as long as it is interpreted as “applies to the domestic basic salaries of civil servants assigned to Indonesian Representatives Abroad.”
Author : Sri Pujianti
Editor : N. Rosi
PR : Fauzan F.
Translator : Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.
Monday, June 23, 2025 | 16:18 WIB 3727