Longer public holidays?<\/p>\n
It's a working day for civil servants, but many at the office of
\nthe North Sumatra provincial administration decided to skip work
\non Friday, following two national holidays on Wednesday and
\nThursday.<\/p>\n
The Social Welfare Agency at the provincial administration
\nlooked quiet (see photo), with few officials around. Office
\nequipment was left untouched and many rooms were still locked.<\/p>\n
Those who showed up for work -- only 10 out of 50 staffers at
\nthe agency -- were seen chatting or smoking although it was 9:35
\na.m. Others even opted to read newspapers or watch TV.<\/p>\n
The low turnout of civil servants after the two days holiday
\ncould also be seen at various offices in Medan, like the office
\nof the mayor, the state court and city council.<\/p>\n
When asked, officials at the North Sumatra Social Welfare
\nAgency said they did not know the whereabouts of their
\ncolleagues, while others said they were on training or
\nassignment.<\/p>\n
\"Many of the officials here are still in a training
\nprogram ...,\" said one of the officials, Damanik, who showed up
\nfor work dressed casually in jeans and T-shirt.<\/p>\n
Another official, Rahman, said it was a die-hard habit to skip
\nwork if the working day was in between two holidays.<\/p>\n
\"Many left for their hometowns during the holidays, making it
\nhard for them to come back to work for a day and continue their
\nholiday the day after,\" said Rahman, who has been working for the
\nprovincial administration for over 20 years.<\/p>\n
When asked about sanctions for those who skipped work, the
\nassistant to the North Sumatra governor on social welfare and
\nlaw, Sofyan Nasution, said they would be given administrative
\nsanctions, especially those who did not seek permission.<\/p>\n
\"The sanctions will be given by their respective superiors,\"
\nSofyan told The Jakarta Post by cell phone from Singapore. He was
\non assignment in the country but children's laughter heard on the
\nphone sounded like he was on holiday himself.<\/p>\n
-- JP\/Apriadi Gunawan<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/longer-public-holidays-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }