Civil servant absent for six years

JAKARTA: Will you get fired if you fail to show up for work for six years? Not likely -- if you work for the National Land Agency (BPN), that is.

Minister for Administrative Reforms M. Feisal Tamin expressed surprise Thursday when he discovered there was an employee at the agency who had been absent for six years because he was sick, Antara reported.

"I am surprised the office was not aware or pretended that they did not know," he said.

As he opened a bazaar at the ministry office compound, Tamin added, "I will ask for a clarification."

According to regulation, one is allowed to stay home from work for a up to two years if the person is ill, as stated by a medical doctor.

He said that the BPN employee was sick and had received medical treatment for four years. Then, for the next two years, he went to see a traditional healer.

"BPN recorded that he violated the regulation because he went to see a healer," the minister said.

The man, however, was still registered as a civil servant.--JP