MP Proposes Holiday Allowance Be Paid Two Weeks Before Eid

Jakarta (ANTARA) — Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives Edy Wuryanto has proposed that the payment of religious holiday allowances (THR) for workers be made no later than 14 days before Eid al-Fitr 2026.

According to Edy, speaking in Jakarta on Tuesday, paying THR a fortnight before Eid would support the smooth flow of the annual homecoming exodus whilst simultaneously driving economic circulation and providing sufficient time for law enforcement action in the event of violations.

“Paying THR earlier provides time for law enforcement should any violations occur,” he said.

The proposal was made in response to the government’s appeal to private companies to implement a Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy before and after Eid, specifically from 16–17 March and 25–27 March 2026.

According to Edy, the current THR payment scheme, which requires disbursement no later than seven days before Eid, risks undermining the effectiveness of that policy.

Furthermore, Edy noted that based on experience from previous years, there remain employers who fail to meet their THR payment obligations on time, with disputes often only being resolved after Eid has passed.

He also pointed out that the extended joint holiday period around Eid could complicate the enforcement process.

“Labour inspectors in the regions are already on leave and have no time to act on reports,” he said.

Beyond the enforcement aspect, Edy argued that paying THR 14 days in advance would give workers more time to prepare for their holiday needs. With the tendency for staple goods prices to rise in the lead-up to Eid, workers could shop earlier to avoid price surges.

“THR is not a new policy. It has been in place for a long time and every company already budgets for it. The earlier it is paid, the better it is for workers and for economic circulation,” he said.

In line with this, the legislator representing Central Java III constituency urged the Ministry of Manpower to revise Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 6 of 2016, which stipulates that THR must be paid no later than seven days before Eid.

“Not seven days but 14 days before Eid al-Fitr,” Edy said.