2017 National Public Holidays and Joint Leave

The Minister of Religious Affairs, Minister of Employment, and Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform have issued Joint Decree No. 135 of 2015, No. SKB 109 of 2016, and No. 01/SKB/MENPANRB/04/2016 on National Public Holidays and Joint Leave for 2017 (“Joint Decree”).The Joint Decree determines the dates of national public holidays and joint public leave for the 2017 period according to a collective agreement made by the above-mentioned Ministers. The Joint Decree is of relevance to both employees and employers of private and government institutions, as well as to the general public.Eid al-Fitr and Ied al-AdhaThe exact dates of the Muslim holidays of Eid-al-Fitr and Ied al-Adha in 2017 are to be determined through an official decree issued by the Minister of Religious Affairs. [1] Vital ServicesInstitutions that provide vital services to the public are required to make the necessary adjustments to their employee work schedules in order to accommodate national public holidays and periods of joint leave. [2] These institutions includes hospitals, public medical centers, telecommunications providers, providers of electricity and water, fire departments, police and security institutions, banks, the transportation sector, and relevant institutions providing similar services.Joint Leave to Be Deducted from Annual LeaveJoint leave may be deducted from employees’ annual leave entitlements, as regulated under the prevailing laws and regulations, or otherwise set out by the respective government institution or private business entity. In other words, the head or management of a private institution or government office is at liberty to deduct joint-leave days from their employees’ annual leave entitlement. [3] National Public Holidays and Joint Leave: 2017 DatesThe exact dates and days of national public holidays and joint leave for the 2017 period are outlined in the following table: [4] A.     National Public Holiday