JAKARTA \u2014 Gathering with family during Eid al-Fitr is an annual\ntradition observed by most Muslims worldwide. However, not everyone is\nfortunate enough to celebrate this significant moment with their\nfamilies at home.<\/p>\n
For many workers, they are forced to remain in the cities where they\nwork, unable to obtain leave during the Eid holiday period. A single\nmother who has worked in minimarket retail for seven years says that her\ndecision to pursue this career has consistently dashed her hopes of\nreuniting with her family in her hometown.<\/p>\n
This is because Erna has rarely received approval for Eid leave over\nthe long years. \u201cInitially, I couldn\u2019t take leave because the shop\nmanager always had priority, and that was non-negotiable \u2014 they took\ntheir leave first,\u201d Erna explained during an interview at her residence\nin Manggarai, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
However, this situation also depends on the staffing levels at each\nminimarket. If there are only five or six employees, simultaneous leave\nbecomes impossible as it would disrupt scheduling for subsequent shifts.\nIf the minimarket employs more than six people, the chances of obtaining\nEid leave improve, though competition for those slots remains\nfierce.<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes it\u2019s sad mixed with frustration, because during Eid,\neveryone is busy gathering with their families and travelling home,\nwhile I\u2019m sitting in front of a computer doing cash register work,\u201d she\nsaid.<\/p>\n
In her early years of employment, she even blamed her decision to\nbecome a minimarket cashier. Over time, however, she has come to accept\nthat being unable to take Eid leave is a risk inherent to working in\nretail.<\/p>\n
Farah Fadilah, a 25-year-old mall employee, has also not returned to\nher hometown in Cirebon, West Java, for nearly five years. \u201cI haven\u2019t\ngone home in almost five years because of the hard work,\u201d Farah said\nwhen visited at her residence in Manggarai, South Jakarta, on\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
During Eid, she sometimes only gets the opportunity to perform the\nEid prayer with family in the morning, after which she must return to\nwork until evening. On rare occasions, she receives a full day off on\nEid, but must return to work the next day as normal.<\/p>\n
This situation makes it impossible for her to join her extended\nfamily for the annual homecoming journey. Each time she sees her parents\noff as they prepare to travel home, Farah is haunted by sadness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I\u2019m seeing them off as they get in the car, honestly, I\u2019m sad\nbecause I can only carry their bags \u2014 I can\u2019t be part of the homecoming\ncelebration,\u201d she said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-who-never-receive-eid-holiday-leave-endure-sadness-away-from-home-1773294904", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }