Jokowi Announces Collective Leave Days for Idul Fitri

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo on Wednesday officially announced a four-day collective leave for workers in conjunction with this year’s Idul Fitri festival which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

The announcement came after the annual mass homebound exodus around the time of Idul Fitri will no longer be forbidden. Before, for two consecutive years, the government banned the Idul Fitri homecoming to contain the spread of Covid-19.

“The government has declared the Idul Fitri festival in Indonesia will fall on May 2-3, while the collective leave will take place on April 29 and May 4-6,” President Widodo said in a televised message on Wednesday, April 6.

Also read: Indonesia to Begin Ramadan on Sunday

Family members could attend get-together events during the collective leave days, said the President, who is popularly known as Jokowi. However, as the Covid-19 pandemic is not over, he called on the public to follow health protocols.

“Get a booster vaccine immediately, follow health protocols and wear the mask in public places,” he said.

Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said that the President has instructed the relevant government agencies to ensure the smooth running of the annual Idul Fitri homecoming.

“The President instructed that the implementation of this year’s Idul Fitri homecoming must be done properly according to the rules, prevent the unnecessary risks from happening so that everyone can visit their hometowns happily and safely,” Muhadjir said after attending the limited cabinet meeting in Bogor Palace on Wednesday, April 6.

He said the meeting also discussed social assistance distribution, the increase in vaccination coverage, and the need for vaccines in areas of origin or destinations.

The government predicted that about 76-78 million residents in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim population, will be going back to their hometowns for the Idul Fitri festival.

(Editor: Sabrina Asril)

Source: https://nasional.kompas.com/read/2022/04/06/17043501/breaking-news-jokowi-umumkan-cuti-bersama-libur-lebaran-1443-h.