Long weekends, national holidays announced

Long weekends, national holidays announced

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government announced on Monday that there would be five long
weekends and 13 national holidays in 2005.

In a joint ministerial decree signed by the Ministry of
Religious Affairs, State Ministry of Administrative Reform and
the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, the government also
decided not change the dates of holidays, as most of them fall on
Fridays or Mondays.

In a bid to boost the country's tourist industry, the
government has, in the past few years, moved national holidays
to either Fridays or Mondays, so that the people can enjoy long
weekends.

The decision was made after the Oct.12, 2002 Bali bombings
that damaged the tourist industry here.

The decree was signed by State Minister for Administrative
Reform Feisal Tamin, Minister for Religious Affairs Said Agil
Munawar and Minister for Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa
Wea and witnessed by interim coordinating minister for social
welfare Malik Fadjar.

Malik expressed hope that the five long weekends next year
would encourage more domestic holidaymakers.

Under the agreement, only two holidays are moved to Friday,
the celebration of Prophet Muhammad's birth on April 22, and that
which marks the ascension of Prophet Muhammad on Sept. 2.

For Idul Fitri that will probably fall on Nov. 3 (Thursday)
and Nov. 4 (Friday), the government will give civil servants five
days off, from Nov. 2.

Civil servants may also take an extra two days leave on Nov. 7
and 8, but only with the permission of their superiors.

"Those who skip work on the first and second day after Idul
Fitri will be sanctioned, which could include dismissal," Feisal
Tamin was quoted by Antara as saying.