The Straits Times are reporting that President Jokowi has declared June 28 and 30 as a collective holiday for the upcoming Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which falls on June 29 this year.
What this means is that most Indonesians will get to enjoy a five-day weekend at the end of the month.
The leave days apply to all civil servants, with companies usually following suit by giving their employees time off. The stock exchange will be shut on those days, say The Straits Times.
“The holiday break should encourage the economy, especially in the regions and local tourism areas, to be better. Because we saw that it could be extended, that was what we decided,” said the president.
It is not the first time President Jokowi has turned to uncommon tactics to drive consumer spending. Not long after the government lifted all Covid-19 restrictions, he ordered local authorities to approve permits for concerts and sports events to get people going out more. During the pandemic, he urged Indonesians to shop online, report The Straits Times.
Consumption is a pivotal growth engine in Indonesia, accounting for more than half of domestic output. High prices and sluggish job creation post-pandemic have started to weigh on spending and retail sales, with weaker-than-usual activity seen during the end of Ramadan, typically the nation’s busiest holiday.
Source: The Straits Times
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