Indonesia Considers WFH Policy for Private Sector & Civil Servants | Updates

Jakarta, Indonesia – A new work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) went into effect across Indonesia today, April 1, 2026, requiring government employees to work remotely every Friday. The initiative, announced by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, aims to boost national energy efficiency amid rising global oil prices and ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The policy applies to all ASN in both central and regional agencies, as outlined in circular letters issued by the Ministry of Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (MenpanRB) and the Ministry of Home Affairs. While the government is encouraging the private sector to adopt similar WFH arrangements, certain sectors are exempt, including healthcare, security, sanitation and strategic industries such as energy, food, trade, transportation, logistics, and finance.

Parliament Urges Continued Productivity

Despite the new flexibility, Indonesia’s parliament speaker Puan Maharani emphasized the importance of maintaining productivity in public services. Maharani stated that public trust is earned through consistent performance, not simply through regulatory changes. “Public trust is not built by changes in regulations, but by whether the public still feels the State is working at the same pace,” she said on Thursday. She stressed the need for timely completion of documents, responsive administrative services, and prompt decision-making.

Maharani also suggested the policy could modernize bureaucracy by shifting the focus from physical presence to measurable performance. However, she underscored the necessity of oversight and clear evaluation indicators to ensure civil servants remain productive. “This policy cannot remain merely administrative. There must be regular evaluations to ensure effectiveness,” she added.

Energy Savings and Policy Evaluation

The WFH policy is part of a broader set of emergency energy-saving measures implemented by the Indonesian government. These measures also include fuel rationing, with private vehicle fuel purchases now capped at 50 litres per day. The government plans to evaluate the effectiveness of the Friday WFH policy after two months of implementation.

While the government hopes the policy will reduce workplace energy consumption, some concerns have been raised. A presidential staff member reportedly cautioned that WFH could be seen as an opportunity for leisure rather than work, characterizing it as a short-term solution.

Education Sector Remains Largely In-Person

The education sector will see limited changes under the new policy. Face-to-face learning will continue five days a week for primary and secondary schools without restrictions on extracurricular or sports activities. Higher education institutions, specifically students in their fourth semester and above, will follow regulations issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology.

The implementation of the WFH policy for civil servants marks a significant shift in working practices in Indonesia, driven by the need to address energy concerns and potentially modernize bureaucratic processes. The coming months will be crucial in determining its long-term impact on productivity and energy consumption.