It is projected that millions of residents will travel to their hometowns this year. We hope that employers will give discretion to their employees that will return to their hometowns to apply for additional leave days to travel outside the peak peri
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Employers must provide discretion to their employees to apply for additional leave days during the Eid al-Fitr holidays, especially to staff members traveling to their hometowns during the exodus, according to a Manpower Ministry's official.

"It is projected that millions of residents will travel to their hometowns this year. We hope that employers will give discretion to their employees that will return to their hometowns to apply for additional leave days to travel outside the peak period," the ministry's Secretary General, Anwar Sanusi, noted in the ministry statement here on Saturday.

While the government has declared April 29 and May 4, 5, and 6, as collective leave days to complement the Eid al-Fitr holiday on May 2-3, the government also projected the peak exodus period to be on April 28-30, he remarked.


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The secretary general expressed optimism that employees would not be restricted by their employers to determine their travel days to avoid travelling during the predicted peak period.

"The government has issued a joint ministerial decision that designates April 29 and May 4, 5, and 6 as collective leave days, and we hope (the employers) will provide discretion to their employees and allow them to travel earlier," Sanusi noted.

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Despite the collective leave days being of facultative nature for employees in the private sector, employers must allow their employees to take leaves to celebrate Eid al-Fitr.

The secretary general remarked that the decision to allow employees to take leaves is subject to the prevailing company's regulations.

"We encourage employers and employees to engage in discussion if adjustment to the leave days' arrangement is necessary to ensure that the company regulations are always respected," Sanusi remarked.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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