As a key term, "aparatur sipil negara" (ASN) is a compound noun. It functions as the official designation for the State Civil Apparatus of Indonesia, encompassing the collective body of professionals employed by government institutions to perform public service, governance tasks, and developmental roles.
Under Indonesian Law No. 5 of 2014, this workforce is divided into two distinct categories. The first is Pegawai Negeri Sipil (PNS), translated as Civil Servants, who are permanent employees appointed to career positions within the bureaucracy after passing a rigorous selection process. The second is Pegawai Pemerintah dengan Perjanjian Kerja (PPPK), or Government Employees with Work Agreements, who are non-permanent staff hired on a contractual basis to fulfill specific functional roles requiring specialized expertise for a defined period.
This dual classification is a core component of Indonesia's bureaucratic reform. It allows the government to maintain a stable, career-oriented civil service (PNS) while simultaneously incorporating a flexible, competency-based workforce (PPPK) to enhance organizational agility and service delivery. The entire system is designed to operate on a merit-based framework, emphasizing professionalism, political neutrality, and accountability.
