Silalahi optimistic about five-day working week<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Administrative Reforms T.B.
\nSilalahi expressed optimism yesterday that the five day working
\nweek, which is being implemented by a number of agencies as a
\ntrial this month, will be a success.<\/p>\n
Silalahi said seven government institutions, including the
\nMinistry of Information, the Ministry of Industry and the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs will launch the trial operation.<\/p>\n
He said that the scheme, which allows civil servants to have
\nSaturday and Sunday off, aims at improving productivity as well
\nas eliminating the \"I don't like Mondays syndrome\".<\/p>\n
The minister said that the two day weekend would renew
\nemployees' spirit on their return to work on the Monday.<\/p>\n
The seven government agencies will report regularly to him
\nabout how the trial is proceeding to see if the scheme is
\neffective or not.<\/p>\n
The government has allowed all its agencies to conduct a trial
\nrun before it implements the scheme nationwide in August next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Silalahi said the offices that had previously
\nintroduced the program had reported a rise in productivity.<\/p>\n
They are the Jakarta municipal administration, the Agency for
\nthe Assessment and Application of Technology and state owned oil
\ncompany Pertamina.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Home Affairs, for example, launched a trial of
\nthe five day working scheme while promising incentives for those
\nwho wanted to work on holidays.<\/p>\n
\"The scheme is aimed at improving efficiency, effectiveness
\nand discipline among employees,\" Suryatna Subrata, the Ministry's
\nsecretary general, announced recently.<\/p>\n
The government introduced the long weekend scheme with the aim
\nof tightening the budget by saving on electricity and telephone
\nbills.<\/p>\n
The idea of giving civil servants Saturdays and Sundays off
\ncame from President Soeharto who recently suggested that the long
\nweekends would enable them to have more time with their families.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Home Affairs is phasing in the introduction of
\nthe five-day working week, beginning with only one week this
\nmonth, and then two weeks each month between September and
\nJanuary and three weeks each month starting February.<\/p>\n
Beginning in May, the employees will enjoy every Saturday off.
\n(par\/yns)<\/p>",
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