Short week begins soon

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Home Affairs is phasing in the five- day work week on a trial basis beginning Aug. 1, Secretary General Suryatna Subrata said.

In the first three months, employees will get one Saturday off each month to be increased by one Saturday per month. That means that in May of next year, every Saturday will be a holiday, the Antara news agency said.

The scheme will be applied to the Ministry and all its subsidiary agencies, which include the provincial governments.

President Soeharto has called for the introduction of five-day work week for government employees nationwide beginning on August 17, 1995, when Indonesia marks its 50th independence anniversary. (emb)