The government has announced a plan to recruit 1.3 million part-time PPPK (Government Employees with Work Agreements/PPPK) workers as a measure to prevent potential mass layoffs of honorary staff. This scheme is considered the best approach to resolving issues related to the management of the state civil apparatus (ASN) in accordance with the ASN Law.
Public Policy and Management lecturer at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM) and public policy analysis expert, Dr. Subarsono, views the government’s decision to appoint 1.3 million PPPK workers as a rational step in the short and medium term.
“I see this as a rational decision in the short and medium term, considering the current state of the national economy. It addresses the shortage of human resources in government institutions both at the central and regional levels, while also reducing unemployment among PPPK workers whose contracts have ended,” he explained on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025.
According to Dr. Subarsono, the policy has impacts from several perspectives.
From a human resource management standpoint, PPPK workers can help fill shortages in critical sectors, such as education and health, and in regions categorized as frontier, outermost, or underdeveloped (3T) regions.
From a financial perspective, the presence of PPPK workers can reduce the state budget burden in the long term, as they are not entitled to pensions.
“The government and the public benefit because public services can continue to be provided,” he elaborated.
However, from an employment standpoint, he noted, PPPK positions are less advantageous due to their limited contract-based duration.
Based on Law No. 49 of 2018, Article 37 paragraph (1), the minimum term of employment for a PPPK is one year.
Article 37 paragraph (5) states that contract extensions for PPPK holding certain primary and middle-high leadership positions are limited to a maximum of five years.
“This condition does not provide sufficient psychological security for PPPK workers,” he added.
According to the National Civil Service Agency (BKN), the number of PPPK workers currently stands at approximately 1,167,900 (25%), compared to 3,566,141 civil servants (75%).
With the addition of 1.3 million new recruits, the total number of PPPK workers will exceed 2.4 million.
Dr. Subarsono estimates that the recruitment plan is intended as a short- and medium-term solution to accommodate the interests of PPPK employees and the government’s effort to mitigate potential social unrest.
At the same time, he cautioned that the policy could also create disparities between ASN and PPPK, as challenges remain in maintaining loyalty among PPPK workers.
“If this recruitment is not limited to honorary staff but also conducted through an open selection system, the government has the opportunity to secure highly competent workers, even experts in their fields. However, this could also mean that honorary workers who have long served but have yet to pass the civil servant selection (CPNS) may not be absorbed,” he concluded.
Author: Salwa
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photograph: Purworejo Regency Government