Aceh Governor Issues Circulation Of Holiday Ban At End Of Year, Violators Given Disciplinary Punishment

Head of Public Relations and Protocol of Seda Aceh, Muhammad Iswanto. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Aceh Governor Nova Iriansyah issued a Circular (SE) regarding restrictions on travel activities outside the region and leave for state civil servants (ASN) during the 2021 Christmas holidays and the 2022 new year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This SE was issued to follow up on the Circular of the Minister for Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Number 26 of 2021," said Head of the Public Relations and Protocol Bureau of the Aceh Secretariat Muhammad Iswanto in Banda Aceh, Wednesday.

He explained that the circular was in the context of preventing and dealing with COVID-19, which has the potential to increase, due to people traveling during the year-end holidays.

Then as a follow-up to the Instruction of the Minister of Home Affairs Number 62 of 2021 concerning Prevention and Control of COVID-19 at Christmas in 2021 and New Year in 2022.

"With regard to the implementation of the Circular, the Governor of Aceh through the SE conveyed several things to ASN regarding the prohibition of traveling outside the region and/or going home from December 24, 2021 to January 2, 2022," said Iswanto.

He said the travel ban was exempted for ASN employees who carry out official duties from a minimum of Primary High Executive Officers (Echelon II) or Head of SKPA.

Meanwhile, State Apparatus Employees who are forced to travel outside the region are required to first obtain written permission from the Authorized Official (PyB) and/or the Head of the respective SKPA within the agency.

Furthermore, State Civil Apparatus Employees who travel outside the area as mentioned above, are also required to pay attention to and comply with a number of things, such as the zoning map for the spread of COVID-19 set by the COVID-19 Handling Task Force.

In addition, there are policies regarding restrictions on entry and exit of people set by the regional government of origin and travel destinations, policies regarding the Enforcement of Restrictions on Community Activities set by the Minister of Home Affairs. Then, the requirements and travel protocols set by the Ministry of Transportation and the Covid-19 Handling Task Force, the health protocol set by the Ministry of Health, and the use of the PeduliLindungi platform.

In the circular, it is also stated that State Civil Apparatuses are not allowed to apply for leave before and/or after a national holiday on the same week as a national holiday, starting from December 24, 2021, to January 2, 2022.

Then, during that period the Civil Service Supervisory Officer is also not allowed to grant leave permission for State Civil Apparatus with the exception of being allowed to take maternity leave, sick leave, or leave for other important reasons.

Furthermore, the competent authorities and the Head of SKPA are also asked to take the necessary steps and enforce discipline on State Civil Apparatus Employees in following the matters stated in the Circular.

"If there are State Civil Apparatus Employees who violate this, then the person concerned will be given a disciplinary punishment as stipulated in Government Regulation Number 94 of 2021 concerning Discipline of Civil Servants and Government Regulation Number 49 of 2018 concerning Management of Government Employees with Work Agreements," said Iswanto.