Holidays moved in 2004 to give longer weekends
Holidays moved in 2004 to give longer weekends
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The government is shifting a number of holidays in 2004 to allow for longer weekends, claiming the measures, employed in 2003, had boosted the country's battered tourism industry and improved work efficiency.
A joint ministerial decree signed by Minister for Religious Affairs Said Agil Munawar, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea and State Minister for Administrative Reform Faisal Tamin on Thursday said that five national holidays falling on Sunday would be moved to Monday to allow for three-day weekends.
According to the 2004 almanac, the five national holidays fall on Feb. 1, Feb. 22, March 21, May 2 and Sept. 12.
With the shifting of holidays, next year, workers will enjoy nine long weekends, the longest being Idul Fitri with nine days holiday. Civil servants must take three of their 12-days of annual holidays off, which, added to the Islamic holidays on Monday and Tuesday, will leave five days off sandwiched between two weekends.
Not all holidays will be shifted, however. Good Friday falling on April 9 will be observed by the state on Friday. The Buddhist Waisak holiday also remains on June 3.
And just like 2002, civil servants must take mandatory leave of three days during the Idul Fitri holiday. However, there will be no extra holidays for Christmas as it falls on Saturday.
Although civil servants are the particular targets of the ruling, private companies are encouraged to follow suit.
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, who witnessed the signing of the decree, said the primary reason for the move was to boost the tourism sector after it was hit by the Oct. 12, 2002, Bali blasts that killed 202 people and injured more than 320 others.
The ministers claimed the measures had boosted tourism in 2003, though they did not provide any data at all.
"The measure has also significantly reduced traffic congestion during Idul Fitri holidays because people have had more time for traveling to their own hometown and back," Kalla said, adding that a survey conducted by his office showed that the public had warmly welcomed the move.
Tamin said shifting the holidays had boosted the work efficiency among civil servants. "Less civil servants skipped work after the long holidays," he said.
No data backing the claims was provided.
Eye Box New holiday schedules for 2004:
No. Holiday Date 1. Idul Adha celebration to be taken on Monday, February 2, instead of Sunday, February 1. 2. Muslim new year celebration to be taken on Monday, February 23, instead of Sunday, February 22. 3. The Hindu Silence Day to be taken on Monday, March 22, instead of Sunday, March 21. 4. The Birthday of Prophet Muhammad to be taken on Monday, May 2, instead of Sunday, May 3. 5. The Ascension Day of Prophet Muhammad to be taken on Monday Sept. 13, instead of Sunday, Sept. 12.
Extended holidays for civil servants in 2003: Idul Fitri holidays moved to Nov. 15 and 16 are combined with three days mandatory leave from Nov. 17 to 19.