Employers urged to pay Idul Fitri bonuses

Employers urged to pay Idul Fitri bonuses

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post/Malang

The Malang regency government issued a circular on Friday
reminding businesses to give employees their Idul Fitri bonuses.

According to regulations, all employees who have been with a
company for at least three months in a row during the current
calendar year are entitled to an Idul Fitri bonus.

"The amount of the bonus differs among employees depending on
how long they have been with a company," said Malang Regent Sujud
Pribadi in the circular.

The bonus must be paid before the Idul Fitri holiday in early
November.

The circulars were sent to some 668 factories operating in
Malang, including cigarette, beverage, chemical and textile
factories.

Sutrisno, an official at the regency manpower office, said he
had not received any complaints from businesses about the
circular.

Textile company PT Lie As went bankrupt a week ago but the
owner said the company would pay workers their Idul Fitri
bonuses.

One business leader said companies in Malang had no objections
to the circular and were ready and willing to pay Idul Fitri
bonuses.

Besides cash bonuses, many companies, especially the larger
ones, also give employees gifts for the holiday, including shirts
and sarongs, said Samuel Malindo, deputy chairman of the Malang
Employers Association.

"Employers consider the bonus an annual tradition and they do
their best to pay the bonuses," said Samuel.

Circulars such as this one are routinely issued by regional
governments as Idul Fitri or Christmas draw near. Though the law
requires companies to pay holiday bonuses, in the past firms have
refused on the grounds of a slowdown in business.