Government Removes 2021 Christmas Collective Leave

jpnn.com, JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has removed the 2021 Christmas holiday collective leave in order to prevent a spike in Covid-19 transmission.

The policy is stated in a joint decree with the Minister of Religion, Minister of Manpower, and Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform regarding national holidays and joint leaves in 2021.

"This is solely carried out to limit the movement of people, which can be massive before the year-end holiday," said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, in a written statement on Wednesday (27/10).

Muhadjir said the government also prohibited state civil servants from taking leaves during the national holiday.

Tjahjo Kumolo, the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, has issued a circular regarding restrictions on activities outside the region and/or leaves for civil servants during the 2021 national holiday.

"We are trying to suppress the number of those who will travel. We have given them a barrier fence, starting from the absence of public holidays to banning them from taking leaves," he said.

"There will be a large-scale campaign to urge people not to travel, not to return to their hometown, and not to travel for non-essential purposes," he added.

Muhadjir said residents who would travel on essential trips must meet travel requirements and undergo strict inspections.