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.