THE DYNAMICS OF INCENTIVE POLICY FOR RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS: A HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PERSPECTIVE IN BONTANG CITY

Abstract

This study aims to examine the dynamics of incentive policies for religious practitioners in Bontang City from a Human Resource Management (HRM) perspective. Religious practitioners play a vital role in fostering public morality, strengthening social cohesion, and providing religious education, while local governments design incentive policies to encourage their active involvement. This research applies a qualitative case study approach, collecting data through in-depth interviews with religious practitioners, government officials, and community leaders, as well as document analysis related to Human Resource Management (HRM)  practices and policy frameworks in the religious sector. The findings reveal that incentive policies significantly contribute to enhancing the motivation, performance, and engagement of religious practitioners. However, their effectiveness is constrained by inconsistent implementation, unclear procedures, weak inter-agency coordination, and limited alignment between policy design and the actual needs of practitioners. Furthermore, professionally structured incentive policies can foster the professionalization of religious practitioners and improve the quality of public services. This study provides empirical evidence of the relationship between incentive policies and Human Resource Management (HRM)  practices in the religious sector, while offering strategic recommendations to develop policies that are more responsive, fair, and sustainable. The results are expected to serve as a reference for decision-making in religious institutions and support social harmony through strengthening the role of religious practitioners.