Public services to stay open over holiday

The city administration has ensured that public services in the capital will run smoothly during the Idul Fitri holiday when public officials take leave en masse.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said Monday the mass leave, to be imposed from Sept. 18 to 23, should not hamper public services in any city agency.

“All services, mainly the emergency ones, such as the Fire Agency and hospitals, will remain open to serve the public during the holiday,” Fauzi told reporters at the City Hall.

He said all officials should return to their offices on Sept. 24, or two days after the Idul Fitri holiday that falls on Sept. 21 and 22 this year.

The mass leave period for public officials had been agreed upon by the Ministry for Administrative Reforms, the Religious Affairs Ministry and the Manpower Ministry, he added.
          
The administration will limit the number of officials allowed to extend their days off after the mass leave in each agency or working unit.

“The number of officials taking extra days off should not exceed 5 percent of the total number of officials in each unit,” Fauzi said, adding that details about the extra leave allowed would be arranged by each respective unit.

The administration has a total of 722 working units.
            
In previous years, many civil servants usually opted to extend their holiday, leaving public offices deserted on the first day back, when they should have returned to work.  
            
The most common reason was that they had not returned to the city after going to their hometowns to celebrate Idul Fitri.  
          
Regulations stipulate that civil servants absent without official leave will face verbal or written sanctions. If they repeat the violations, they will face delays in promotion or salary cuts.