TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - One of the things that people look forward to before Eid al-Fitr is the annual holiday or Eid allowance (THR).

Citing sptsk-spsi.org, Eid allowance emerged in 1951 when the Prime Minister of Masyumi, Soekiman Wirjosandjojo, introduced the term to improve the welfare of employees and state apparatus.

This policy drew pros and cons from various circles, especially laborers who demanded that the government issue the same policy for companies. The government then issued a regulation that allows companies to provide Eid allowance for their employees.

The legal basis for THR was further strengthened when the government during issued the Indonesian Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 4 of 1994 concerning Eid allowance for company employees.

What about other countries?

The concept of giving religious holiday allowance is usually applied in Muslim-majority countries, including Malaysia, to welcome Eid al-Fitr.

In 2023, the Malaysian Government prepared a budget of RM1.572 billion or around Rp5.3 trillion for 3.46 million citizens in the form of Eid Al-Fitr Special Financial Assistance which was distributed on April 17, 2023.

Malaysia's Deputy Minister of Finance, Ahmad Maslan, said the recipients consisted of civil servants, government pensioners, paddy farmers, small rubber smallholders, fishermen, and volunteers.

Apart from Malaysia, a religious holiday bonus also applies in Greece for Christmas and Easter.

Citing the official website of the Greek Ministry of Labor and Social Security, holiday allowance is given to workers under a private-law employment relationship (dependent employment relationships) as regulated in Ministerial Decree Number 19040/1981 (GG B '742).

Paragraphs 1, 2, and 3 of Article 1 of the decree stipulate that every employee who is paid salary or wages is entitled to a Christmas Bonus equal to one monthly salary for salaried workers and to 25 wages for wage workers. In addition, the Easter bonus is given equal to half the monthly salary for salaried workers and to 15 wages for wage workers.

Something similar is also applied in the United States, where the concept of holiday allowance is given as a Christmas bonus or a 13-month salary. Quoted from the GO Banking Rates website, this bonus is given to employees at the end of the year.

NAOMY A. NUGRAHENI | YUDONO YANUAR

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