PRESIDENT Joko “Jokowi’ Widodo has instructed his subordinates to cut the 2020 year-end holiday short to curb Covid-19 transmission, a minister has said.
Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy revealed the instruction
at a press conference after attending a Cabinet meeting on Monday.“The President has requested a reduction in collective leave days in regard to the year-end holiday, including the substitute leave days for Aidilfitri, ” Muhadjir said as quoted by tribunnews.com. He went on to say that the president had also told his ministry to organise a meeting on the matter with several ministries and government institutions.
Previously, the government had decided to reschedule the Aidilfitri collective leave, which was initially set for May 26 to 29, to this year’s end, from Dec 28 to 31, due to an alarming rise in Covid-19 transmission earlier in the year.
The decision on the collective leave is stipulated in a joint decree on 2020 public holiday and collective leave that was signed by the religious affairs, manpower and administrative and bureaucratic reform ministers. The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) has also stated its
concerns about possible unfavourable outcomes from the upcoming year-end holiday and collective leave.
The association also suggested that the government cancel the planned holidays altogether, if necessary. “It is the IDI’s suggestion to cancel the year end’s collective leave plan altogether, especially since we all witnessed high virus transmissions following the long weekends in August and October, ” said IDI chief Daeng M. Faqih as quoted by kompas.id.
Separately, Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said last week that there was no change in the upcoming collecting leave plans so far.
He added that he was waiting for respective decisions to be made by Muhadjir and Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah on the matter. — The Jakarta Post/ANN
Did you find this article insightful?