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.