Indonesian lecturer reveals low salary, impact on academic freedom

A lecturer at Universitas Airlangga (Unair) has revealed the financial struggles faced by non-civil servant (non-ASN) academics in Indonesia. Cenuk Widiayastrisna Sayekti testified before the Constitutional Court that her monthly income is approximately 3.3 million rupiah, with a base salary of 2.6 million rupiah, supplemented by professional allowances, meal, and rice money.

Cenuk, who holds a doctorate from Macquarie University and began her academic career in 2010, stated that despite over a decade of experience and advanced qualifications, her basic earnings remain limited. She noted that her income has not provided a sense of security, as a significant portion relies on components outside her base salary. This financial uncertainty, she explained, impacts academic freedom.

She recounted an incident where she faced repercussions after criticizing a state institution on social media and participating in International Labor Day actions in 2025. Following this, her teaching load was reduced, she was removed from academic teams, and excluded from campus activities. Cenuk also mentioned being denied a home loan due to her income not meeting the required threshold, forcing her to seek additional income streams.

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When I started working at Universitas Airlangga, the basic salary I received was around 2.6 million rupiah per month. This means that after more than a decade of a career as a lecturer, pursuing doctoral education and obtaining a teaching certificate, my basic income as a lecturer remains at a very limited level.