New work week scheme tied to productivity

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Administrative Reforms TB Silalahi said yesterday that the trial run for the long weekend scheme for civil servants should aim at increasing productivity.

"Longer work hours does not guarantee higher productivity," he said.

Silalahi was elaborating on the government's plan for a five- day-work-week for civil servants, which will reduce the number of working days but increase the number of working hours per day.

On Tuesday, the minister made the announcement that the government would allow all ministries to conduct a trial run before they put the plan into affect on Aug. 17, 1995, the anticipated start of the program which coincides with the 50th anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day.

According to the minister, not all government agencies would implement the plan, such as those which offered important public services such as health care workers.

Silalahi said yesterday that he would require reports on the implementation of the trial run projects from all the involved agencies.

He added that he had not received any reports so far. He said that he hoped the agencies would submit their reports by Aug. 1, when they officially started the trial run.

The minister said that, in the first phase, the agencies will allow a long weekend once per month.

The frequency will be increased until all civil servants are allowed to have the weekend off every week, he said.

Silalahi also said that the government had chosen 1995 as "the year of productivity". (05)