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