Government Sets 20 National Holidays and Joint Leave Days in 2019

The Indonesian government has designated a total of 20 national holidays and joint leave days in 2019. This comprises 16 national holidays and 4 joint leave days for Eid al-Fitr 1440 H and Christmas. The number of holidays and joint leave days in 2019 is fewer than in 2018, which totaled 24 days.

The joint decision regarding national holidays was signed by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, the Minister of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform, Syarifuddin, and the Minister of Manpower, Hanif Dhakiri, on November 2nd, 2018. The implementation of joint leave days will reduce the annual leave entitlement of employees/workers in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Next year, the most national holidays and joint leave days fall in June, totaling six days due to Eid al-Fitr 1440 H falling on the 5th and 6th. This comprises 3 national holidays and 3 joint leave days. The next highest number of national holidays falls in May, with 3 days. There are no national holidays in July and October 2019. Furthermore, next year also includes 4 national "sandwiched days" (harpitnas) – working days sandwiched between holidays, often used as opportunities to take leave and enjoy extended holidays. These fall on February 4th, March 8th, May 31st, and December 23rd.