Gov’t Bans Intercity Travel, Annual Leaves for State Apparatus Ahead of Christmas, NY Holidays
The Government has announced ban for state civil apparatus to travel out of town and to take leaves during this year’s Christmas and New Year holidays amid concern over surge in COVID-19 cases.
The restriction, which is based on Circular of Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms (PANRB) Number 26 of 2021 on Restrictions for Intercity Travel and/or Taking Leaves among State Civil Apparatus for Christmas and New Year Holidays during COVID-19 Pandemic, takes effect from 24 December 2021 to 2 January 2022.
“We issued the circular as a preventive measure to anticipate potential spike in COVID-19 positive cases due to people’s mobility during the holidays,” Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms (PANRB) Tjahjo Kumolo said in Jakarta, Thursday (25/11).
Based on the Ministry’s Circular Number 13 of 2021, state civil apparatus is prohibited from taking leave and traveling out of town in the same week of public holidays starting from 20 December 2021.
Nevertheless, the Government can grant maternity leave and sick leave for state civil apparatus and Contract-based Government Employees (PPPK), and/or leave for important reasons for state civil apparatus.
The leaves must be granted in an accountable manner according with requirements regulated in Government Regulation Number 11 of 2017 on Management of State Civil Apparatus as last amended by Government Regulation Number 17 of 2020 and Government Regulation Number 49 of 2018 on Management of Contract-based Government Employees (PPPK).
In the same Circular, there are also exceptions for intercity travel. State civil apparatus are allowed to travel to the office for those working in agglomeration areas such as Medan metropolitan area, Greater Jakarta, Greater Bandung, Greater Jogjakarta, Greater Solo, Semarang metropolitan area, Surabaya metropolitan area, and Makassar metropolitan area.
For state civil apparatus who travel on official trip, they are obliged to obtain a Letter of Assignment signed by at least Echelon II Official or Head of Working Unit.
The exemption also applies in case of urgency that requires state civil apparatus to travel to other regions. Prior to the travel, they are obliged to obtain a written permit from the Personnel Supervisor Officers (PPK) in their respective institutions.
Before going on an intercity travel, they must take into account the following points: zoning map of COVID-19 transmission risk, regulations/policies on people’s mobility applied by local governments in regions of origin and destination, regulation on public activity restrictions (PPKM) imposed by Minister of Home Affairs; conditions, criteria, requirements, and protocols for traveling set by Ministry of Transportation and the COVID-19 National Working Committee, the health protocols imposed by Ministry of Health, and obligation to use PeduliLindungi surveillance app.
Under the Circular, the PPK are ordered to set up a technical regulation and take necessary measures in their respective institutions. They can also impose disciplinary sanctions to state civil apparatus violating the provisions of the Circular and report them through http://s.id/LaranganBepergianASN no later than three days from the end of the holidays. (Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reforms PR) (RAS/EP)
