HOLIDAY IS OVER, GO BACK TO WORK PLEASE, GOVERNMENT SAYS

As the week-long Idul Fitri festivities come to an end on Wednesday, the government has a warning for all of its civil servants across the country: Do not forget to return to the office. 

“I am reminding all state employees to go back to work as normal on Thursday [June 21]. I believe you all can be disciplined and follow such instructions,” Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Asman Abnur said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added the minister had sent a letter to other ministers, leaders of state organizations as well as regional heads asking them to monitor civil servant attendance on the first day of work after the week-long Idul Fitri holiday.

Asman also expressed his appreciation to civil servants who had been working during the holiday. “Thank you for your sincerity and sacrifice. May Allah bless you in return for [your kindness].”

He also urged government employees to be grateful for the government’s policy of giving them extra time off, so that they could provide better services for the public.

In May, the government decided to extend the Idul Fitri holiday to 10 days, from June 11 to 20, from the previous seven days. The regulation aimed at preventing serious traffic congestion that often occurs during mudik (exodus).