JAKARTA – UPN Yogyakarta lecturers protest PNS status, as hundreds of academic staff and education workers staged a demonstration demanding the government fulfill its long-standing promise to appoint them as civil servants.
Wearing black-and-white attire, the protesters gathered at the rectorate building of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) Veteran Yogyakarta. They delivered speeches while holding banners and posters, urging authorities to grant them full civil servant (PNS) status.
The demonstrators argue that their appointment as PNS should have been completed years ago, following the university’s transition from a private institution to a public university. Instead, many have only been appointed as government contract employees, known as PPPK (Pegawai Pemerintah dengan Perjanjian Kerja).
Many of those involved in the protest have served the institution for more than two decades. They questioned the recognition of their academic qualifications and professional contributions, saying their current employment status does not reflect their years of service.
The protest also highlights broader issues affecting newly established public universities in Indonesia, particularly those converted from private institutions. During the transition, permanent foundation staff—both lecturers and administrative personnel—were transferred to government oversight, with initial plans suggesting they could be appointed as civil servants.
However, regulatory changes required these employees to undergo a selection process for PPPK roles instead. This shift has led to ongoing concerns about career progression, job security, and alignment with other academic employment regulations.
Some academics argue that converting PPPK staff into PNS would create greater parity within the higher education system and strengthen institutional performance. “This is about resolving human resource issues in newly established public universities,” one representative said.
The rector of UPN Veteran Yogyakarta has expressed support for the lecturers’ demands, acknowledging their long-standing contributions and the need for a fair resolution. The issue dates back to 2014, when the university officially became a state institution.
Currently, around 283 staff members at UPN Veteran Yogyakarta remain under PPPK contracts, fueling continued calls for policy revision and government action.