Govt repeals joint decree on workday shifts

The government has decided to repeal a 2008 joint ministerial decree that obliged industries on Java and Bali islands to move two workdays from Monday to Friday to Saturday and Sunday to overcome the shortage of electricity supply.

The secretary-general of the Industry Ministry, Agus Tjahayana, said the supply of electricity was stable and several new power plants had been constructed on the two islands, so the decree was no longer needed.

“The five ministers have agreed to repeal the decree,” he told reporters in a press conference at the ministry Monday, adding that by repealing the decree, industries could normalize their workdays to Monday to Friday.

Agus said the electricity supply was not worrisome because the high intensity of rainfall had increased water reserves to generate electricity supplies from hydroelectric power plants across the islands.

The additional supply from hydroelectric power plants could maintain the stability of the electricity supply, particularly for industries, he added.

In July 2008, the industry minister, the energy and mineral resource minister, the manpower and transmigration minister, the home minister and the state-owned enterprises minister issued the joint decree after the state electricity company (PLN) reported a 600-megawatt (MW) lack of electricity supply per day from Monday to Friday.

Meanwhile, on Saturday and Sunday there was an unused surplus of 3000 MW.

The decree obliged industries to shift two workdays from Monday to Friday to Saturday and Sunday to avoid regular blackouts within the first five days of the week. (rdf)