This idea was first raised by Vice-President Jusuf Kalla who suggested that only female civil servants who have children below six years of age be made eligible for reduced working hours.Denpasar, Bali (ANTARA News) - Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Yuddy Chrisnandi has hinted that female civil servants with infants will be given less working hours to enable them to take care of their children.
"The reduction of working hours is intended to give them (female civil servants) more time to take care of their children," the minister told journalists on the sidelines of his visit to Graha Sewaka Dharma here Thursday.
Chrisnandi noted that the government has been considerate of female employees who have infants.
"We will begin by seeking the opinion of all government agencies, from ministries to sub-district offices, about the move," he remarked.
In response to the central governments initiative, the Denpasar city government will have to provide childcare centers to help female employees nurture and play with their infants, he explained.
"So no employee will have any excuse to skip work for months saying they have to take care of their children," he observed.
Chrisnandi further noted that the idea was part of the governments efforts to improve the welfare of civil servants as it could cut their expenses on baby-sitters.
In fact, not all civil servants have the ability to pay baby-sitters, he emphasized.
The government will create new rules to make workplaces comfortable for female civil servants who have babies and to ensure the effectiveness and productivity of work, he stated.
This idea was first raised by Vice-President Jusuf Kalla who suggested that only female civil servants who have children below six years of age be made eligible for reduced working hours.
Currently, Indonesian civil servants have to work eight hours a day, and those eligible for reduced hours are expected to work only six hours a day.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
