House Officially Approves Village Bill to Law
Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Dr. (H.C) Puan Maharani receives the final remarks on the Village Bill from the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, during the 14th Plenary Session of the Fourth Sitting Period of the 2023-2024 Session Period at Nusantara II Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (28/3/2024). Photo: Geraldi/nr
PARLEMENTARIA, Jakarta - The Indonesian House of Representatives has approved the Bill on the Second Amendment to Law Number 6 of 2014 on Villages into law. The approval was made during the 2nd reading at the 14th Plenary Session of the Fourth Sitting Period of the 2023-2024 Session Period at Nusantara II Building, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday 28 March 2024.
“Next, we will ask each political party faction whether the Bill on the Second Amendment to Law Number 6 of 2014 on Villages can be approved to be enacted into law. All in favor?" asked Puan.
The question was met with a resounding ‘Aye’ from all the attending MPs. The meeting was followed by the final remarks on the Village Bill by the Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian.
Deputy Chair of the House Legislation Committee Achmad Baidowi asserted one of the crucial points agreed upon, which was extension of the term of office for Village Chiefs to eight years and a maximum re-election of two terms
Chair of Legislation Committee Supratman Andi Agtas previously submitted report of the joint deliberation of Village Bill with the government. The report contains several points of amendments in the Law, including the insertion of Article 5A concerning the provision of conservation funds and/or rehabilitation funds, provisions in Articles 26, 50A, and Article 62, coupled with provisions on one-time retirement benefits at the end of the term of office for village chiefs, village consultative assembly, and village officials in accordance with the village's financial capacity.
”Third, the insertion of Article 34A regarding requirements for the number of village chief candidates in village chief elections. Fourth, provisions in Article 39 regarding the Village Chief term of office of 8 years and a maximum re-election of 2 terms. Fifth, provisions in Article 72 regarding village sources of revenue. Sixth, provisions in Article 118 regarding transitional provisions. Seventh, provisions in Article 121A regarding monitoring and review of the law," added Supratman.
The Village Bill was previously approved by the Legislation Committee and the government following deliberations of the 248 List of Outstanding Issues (DIM) during the first approval working meeting on 5 February 2024. One of the crucial points agreed upon was the extension of the term of office for village chiefs to eight years, with a maximum re-election of two terms. “We tried to accommodate the opinions of the Village Chief Association and village officials demanding that Village Law be revised, and we have done it by making this a House-initiated bill,” Baidowi concluded. (we/rdn)
