Jakarta. President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo addressed the ongoing judges' strike across Indonesia, where thousands are demanding wage increases after 12 years of stagnant salaries.

Speaking at the BNI Investor Daily Summit 2024 in Jakarta on Tuesday, Jokowi confirmed that the issue is under review by three ministries: the Bureaucratic Reform Ministry, the Law and Human Rights Ministry, and the Finance Ministry.

“All of this is still being studied and calculated by the ministries involved. The evaluation process is ongoing,” Jokowi said.

The strike began on Monday, with judges pushing for higher wages, citing inflation and the rising cost of living. Judges have not received a salary increase in over a decade. The Supreme Court (MA) clarified that there is no formal strike as it recognized it as "a coordinated leave" organized by members of the Indonesian Judges' Solidarity (SHI).

“There is no mass strike. The judges are simply exercising their leave rights at the same time,” said MA spokesperson Suharto during a meeting with SHI in Jakarta. Suharto added that the MA does not oppose the action, as long as it does not severely disrupt court proceedings.

Some courts are continuing with scheduled hearings, particularly in urgent civil and criminal cases. Judges who remain on duty are wearing white ribbons to show solidarity with their colleagues on leave.

The Judicial Commission (KY) has informed President-elect Prabowo Subianto about the judges’ demands, including proposals to improve their welfare. KY Chairman Amzulian Rifai confirmed that discussions have been held regarding salary increases for judges.

“We hope the executive branch will support this initiative, but the final decision lies with the Finance Ministry,” said KY spokesperson Mukti Fajar Nur Dewata, noting that fair compensation is crucial to maintaining judicial integrity and preventing ethical violations.

Indonesia has around 7,700 judges at district, provincial, and national levels. The base salary for a first-year judge is Rp 2 million ($127) per month, with allowances bringing total earnings to Rp 16.6 million ($1,053). However, judges argue that these wages are no longer adequate given inflation and the increasing demands of their work.

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