TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB Ministry) Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, and Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi signed a joint decree (SKB) regarding national holidays and collective leave in 2020.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy explained the decree noted four additional joint leaves this year.

“The initial collective days are 20 days and now adjust to 24 days as determined in a joint decree signed by Religious Affairs Minister, Manpower Minister, PANRB Minister,” said Muhadjir at his office, Jakarta, Monday, March 9.

Based on the decree, the additional leave days are on May 28-29 as this year’s Eid al-Fitr joint leave, August 21 as joint leave for the Islamic New Year, and October 30 as a joint leave for the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad.

Muhadjir clarified that the amendment of the joint ministerial decree on the 2020 collective leave was not carried out in the wake of the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 outbreak. “No, it's not related [to the outbreak],” he underlined.

According to Muhadjir, the additional leave days are expected to boost the national economy and build a centric Indonesia. “The holidays can be beneficial to all parties.”

FRISKI RIANA