National holidays

National holidays

From Kompas

About one year from now civil servants will get a change in
working hours and longer weekends. We have every reason to be
pleased at this new government policy.

But, of course, it is not without pluses and minuses. Saturday
being made a holiday, Indonesia will have the same weekend-off
system as Europe and America.

In line with this new policy, there is something that calls
for our attention, i.e. the setting of dates for national
holidays. I have thought of this matter because I have been
studying in the United States for four years.

In my observation I find that most U.S. national holidays,
which are more or less of the same number as the Indonesian
holidays, are scheduled to fall on one side or another of the
weekend. For example, Labor Day always falls on a Monday. Other
national holidays, like Memorial Day, are set to fall on either
Fridays or Mondays.

I think this is a good thing, because the people automatically
get a long holiday when national holidays and weekends fall
together on the calendar. Having one or two days in between
holidays and weekends is very clumsy and can lead to a high level
of absenteeism in the workplace.

In this context it might be worthwhile for Indonesia to follow
the U.S.as an example. However, we must exclude Idul Fitri,
Christmas, the Hindu Day of Silence, the Buddhist Waisak Day and
New Year's from the system.

But it seems to me that this could apply to other holidays
based on tradition, such as the Isra Mi'raj and Ascension Day.

Please don't be mistaken, I do not have any intention of
underestimating the significance of those holidays. I just want
us to achieve some advantage from relocating the holidays, which
in turn can be expected to increase productivity.

Forgive me if I am wrong.

Long Live the Republic of Indonesia!

ROSIADY SAYUTI

Columbus, Ohio, USA