Effects of shorter work weeks unclear
Effects of shorter work weeks unclear
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi says reports by government agencies on five-day working week trials are not reliable because they are not supported by accurate data.
The government agencies assigned to try out the shorter working week have all submitted their reports and recommendations, Silalahi said during a meeting with officials in Bandarlampung yesterday.
"But, alas, if you just use your common sense, the reliability of those reports is questionable because of the lack of data," he said, as quoted by Antara.
He said his office would study the reports carefully to determine the future of the shorter working week scheme.
The trial-run project of the shorter working week began last year. After it has been assessed the central government will decide whether the shorter week will be introduced as scheduled on Aug. 17.
According to Silalahi, all agencies recommend that the five- working day scheme be adopted on a permanent basis as of Aug. 17, when the Republic of Indonesia celebrates its 50th birthday.
Objections to the plan have come from Moslem leaders, especially in Java, who are worried that it could lead to the closure of Islamic schools whose students take regular courses at public schools in the morning and would have to stay into the late afternoon if the plan were implemented.
"The numerous reports that have reached my office say that the shorter working week will greatly help improve civil servants' productivity. But again, the lack of supporting data makes them hard to believe," he said.
He said that the government agencies had, in general, provided neither quantitative nor qualitative data on how the shorter week improved efficiency and productivity during the trial run.
For example, they did not compare their spending before and after they applied the shorter week, to support their argument that the scheme improved efficiency, Silalahi said.
Neither did they present quantitative data on how the shorter working week improved the productivity of their employees, he added.
The State Administrative Reforms office has established a team to evaluate the reports and recommendations on the future of the plan.
Silalahi reiterated that the main purpose of the scheme was to improve civil servants' productivity and service to the public. In addition, the scheme would enable civil servants to minimize their offices' expenditures and to enjoy longer weekends with their families, the minister said.
In some countries, such as Singapore, a shorter working week has proven effective in improving, not only employees' productivity, but also their attitude towards work.
"Our discipline is still far from Singapore's and it is a challenge for us to improve," he said.
Silalahi announced that, in connection with the golden anniversary of Indonesia's independence, the government would present Abdi Satya Bhakti awards to the government agencies which provided the best service to the public.
The government called on local administrations to compete for the awards, which would be presented by President Soeharto, Silalahi said.
The competition, he said, aimed at encouraging government offices to offer good service to the public.
"Good service is essential for government administrations in regencies that will get greater autonomy next fiscal year," he said. (rms)