Parliament to Review Proposal to Scrap Police Clearance Requirement
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id – The House of Representatives has announced it will review a public proposal to eliminate the police clearance certificate requirement for various civil and administrative processes, including job applications. The initiative, which has sparked both support and criticism, could signal a shift in how the country balances security checks with individual rights and administrative efficiency.
Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said lawmakers would assess the benefits and drawbacks of removing the requirement for the police-issued document, officially known as the police record certificate, or SKCK.
“We will review the proposal and determine which option brings more benefit to the public,” Dasco said during a visit to the residence of Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan in Jakarta on Monday, March 31, 2025.
SKCK certifies whether an individual has a criminal record and is commonly required for applications involving civil service, private employment, educational admissions, and immigration processes. While originally intended to ensure public safety, critics argue it now serves as an administrative hurdle that fails to reflect modern digital capabilities or considerations of human rights and inclusion.
Dasco acknowledged there were competing views on the issue but noted that the proposal appeared to be rooted in serious considerations, though he did not elaborate on those factors.
Human Rights Concerns Drive Push for Reform
The push to eliminate the SKCK requirement gained momentum following a statement from Minister of Human Rights Natalius Pigai, who urged the National Police to abolish the policy. Pigai argued that the SKCK potentially infringes on citizens’ fundamental rights by creating unnecessary barriers to employment and social mobility.
Echoing this sentiment, Chair of the House of Representatives' Commission III, Habiburokhman, expressed his support for the proposal. “I agree with the abolition of SKCK. It’s often unnecessary,” he said at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, March 27, 2025.
He pointed out that anyone with a criminal conviction is typically known within the community or can be identified through public records, reducing the need for a formal clearance document.
A Burden on Job Seekers and Public Resources
Habiburokhman also criticized the use of SKCK as a requirement in job applications. He argued the process not only burdens job seekers financially but also wastes time due to long queues and bureaucratic delays.
“Imagine someone just trying to get a job, and they have to pay for transportation to the police station, wait in line, and possibly pay a fee—whether officially or unofficially,” he said.
From a fiscal standpoint, he noted the revenue generated from SKCK fees under the state’s non-tax income stream (PNBP) was not substantial. He suggested the police could better allocate their resources than handling SKCK-related paperwork.
“In my recollection, the contribution to state revenue is not even significant. So why exhaust police resources for this?” Habiburokhman said.