Sri Mulyani: Long Holidays Do Not Affect Economic Improvement, Instead, Make COVID-19 Cases Continue To Increase

JAKARTA - Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that the long holiday during the pandemic did not improve economic indicators or there was no consumption but instead increased the number of COVID-19 cases.

"This means that we have to look carefully, whether with a long holiday, people carry out activities, have high mobility but do not cause spending and cause additional COVID cases," he said when presenting the November 2020 edition of our State Budget, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, November 24.

According to the Minister of Finance, in the fourth quarter of 2020, the number of working days was indeed less than the same period last year. In October this year, he continued, the number of working days reached 23 days, while this year 19 days due to long holidays.

However, electricity consumption in the business and manufacturing sectors decreased, so that the impact on the production sector also decreased and the consumption sector did not actually increase.

On the other hand, economic activity in October 2020 weakened again due to the increase in COVID cases.

"This must be seen continuously to provide all aspects, such as making a policy not only looking at one side, having to look at all sides, aspects of health, economy, business activities and others," he added.

Meanwhile, the working days in November this year are the same as in 2019 which reached 21 days and in December 2020 the number of working days reached 16 days, while last year it reached 20 working days.

"This is what the President meant, whether the number of working days or long holidays in an atmosphere of COVID has an unintended impact, which we do not want, namely the number of cases to increase but the number of economic activities not to increase," he added.

Previously, the Coordinating Minister for Human Empowerment and Culture Muhadjir Effendy said President Joko Widodo asked for a reduction in holidays and leave together at the end of the year.

Muhadjir said the Head of State ordered that a coordination meeting be held with ministries / agencies to discuss holidays and joint leave at the end of the year as well as substitutes for leave with Idul Fitri.