Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform has limited the grant of leave permits for state civil servants during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of efforts to prevent a wider outbreak.

"Civil servants do have leave rights. But sorry, this time the leave rights are very restricted," assistant deputy for Integrity and Evaluation of the Merit System of the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform, Bambang D. Sumarsono, said in a joint press conference with the Task Force for the Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling in Jakarta on Thursday.

In accordance with the Circular of the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (No. 46 of 2020) concerning restrictions on travel outside the region, annual exodus, and grant of leaves for civil servants, to prevent COVID-19 spread, state civil apparatuses are no longer permitted to grant leave during the public health emergency caused by the coronavirus, Sumarsono explained.

As per the circular, officials with the ministry of civil servants, agencies, and local governments are not permitted to grant leave to state civil servants, except in the case of illness, childbirth, or other important reasons.

According to the circular issued on April 9, 2020, leave under important reasons would apply for civil servants in case of a death or illness in their immediate family.

"Marriage leave is not (covered) in this provision," Bambang said.



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Translator: Katriana, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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