Ministry Tells Central, Regional Governments to Establish Gratification Control Unit
Following the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 54 of 2018 on National Strategic of Corruption Prevention and to encourage the effectiveness of the implementation of gratification control, Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) has ordered all ministries and institutions, Provincial Governments, Regency Governments and City Governments to establish a Gratification Control Unit (UPG).
The order was stated in Circular of Minister of PANRB Number 04 of 2019 on Acceleration of Gratification Control in Government Agencies.
The circular was signed by Minister of PANRB Syafruddin on 18 September 2019 and was addressed to: 1. Ministers of the Working Cabinet; 2. Cabinet Secretary; 3. Head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN); 4. The National Police Chief; 5. Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia; 6. Commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI); 7. Heads of Non-Ministerial Government Institutions; 8. Secretaries of State Institutions; 9. Secretariat Leaders of Non-Structural Institutions; 10. Heads of Public Broadcasting Institutions; 11. Governors; 12. Regents / Mayors.
“Gratification Control Unit (UPG) shall be established internally within government agencies to carry out the function of gratification control and to continue the UPG function to all work units,” point (1) of the Circular reads.
The Minister stated that the UPG should apply the following principles: a. Transparency; b. Accountability; c. Legal certainty; d. Benefits for the public interest; e. Independence; and f. Protection for reporters.
Through the Circular, Syafruddin also instructed the officials to improve the understanding of gratification to all members of the organization.
In addition, he also told the officials to improve competence of the UPG human resources related to gratification so that the UPG personnel can have adequate understanding of gratification control.
“All officials and employees shall be encouraged to submit reports of acceptance and rejection of gratuities through the UPG to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on a regular basis,” reads point 5 of the Circular.
The Minister also urged the officials to set an example for employees by reporting the acceptance of gratification if there are elements/criteria for gratification when organizing weddings, both their own marriages and marriages of family members, as well as celebrations of religious days to the UPG at internal institutions.
“All relevant parties should abide by the circular,” it reads.
Translated by: Estu Widyamurti
Edited by: M. Ersan Pamungkas
