Government formalizes five-day working week<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The five-day working week, introduced on a trial
\nbasis at most government offices over the past year, has finally
\nbeen formalized for the Central Government Administration and
\nJakarta City Administration.<\/p>\n
State Minister of Administrative Reform T.B. Silalahi
\nannounced yesterday that President Soeharto has signed decree no.
\n68\/1995 allowing the working hours of government agencies to be
\nchanged. The regulation becomes effective on Oct. 1.<\/p>\n
Silalahi said the trial has proven that for many
\nadministrations the shorter working week is more "effective and
\nefficient".<\/p>\n
The five-day working week will be introduced in phases at
\nprovincial and selected regency and city administrations,
\ndepending on their ability to cope with the changes, the decree
\nstated.<\/p>\n
The decree is merely a formality for government workers in
\nJakarta. They have enjoyed a shorter working week for months.<\/p>\n
The decree stipulates government employees will work Monday to
\nThursday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m with an hour break; and
\nFriday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with an 1.5 hour break.<\/p>\n
Government teachers will continue to work six days a week
\nbecause religious leaders strongly opposed the shorter week.
\nGovernment agencies providing vital public services must also
\ncontinue to operate six or seven days a week. Civil servants
\nworking under the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense and
\nSecurity are also exempted from the decree.<\/p>\n
Envy<\/p>\n
Asked if this might stir envy among government employees who
\nstill must work on Saturdays, Silalahi pointed out that those on
\nfive-day working week are working longer -- 37.5 hours a week
\ncompared to 32 hours for those working six days a week.<\/p>\n
Silalahi also explained the government's policy of recruiting
\n2,000 new civil servants for the East Timor provincial
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
He admitted that the government had broken its pledge not to
\nrecruit more employees than the number who retire each year to
\naccommodate the administration's needs in East Timor.<\/p>\n
All but 59 of the vacancies were filled by East Timorese, he
\nsaid. The 59 places that went to non-East Timorese were positions
\nfor university graduates which could not be filled locally
\nbecause of a shortage of East Timorese graduates.<\/p>\n
A total of 15,000 people applied for the vacancies. When the
\ngovernment announced the results early this month, some who
\nfailed to qualify began rioting, Silalahi said.<\/p>\n
The new recruits will undergo training outside East Timor.
\nOnly 650 of them will be employed in East Timor, the others will
\nbe posted either in central government agencies or in provincial
\nadministrations, he added. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/government-formalizes-five-day-working-week-1447893297",
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