Apindo: WFH Cannot Be Applied Uniformly Across All Sectors
Apindo General Chair Shinta Kamdani has responded to the government’s plan to implement a work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) and private sector employees after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
According to Shinta, this step cannot be applied uniformly. “If this proposal is eventually implemented, it certainly cannot be carried out uniformly across all sectors. Many real sectors, such as manufacturing, logistics, trade, and services directly related to field operations, still require physical presence,” she told Tempo on Sunday, 22 March 2026.
Direct presence from workers and operational mobility are needed by these business sectors to ensure production and distribution activities run smoothly. However, according to her, there are some sectors that can flexibly implement WFH, such as the information technology sector and creative professions.
In addition to considering sectors, Shinta said it is also necessary to look at the type of activities and work to determine if they can be done under a WFH scheme or not. Apindo assesses that arrangements for work patterns like this should be left to the design and internal policies of each company so that companies can adapt to their operational needs and sector characteristics.
Shinta added that in-depth studies and room for discussion with business owners are needed if the WFH policy proposal is applied to the private sector after Eid. “This is necessary so that the policies taken can run optimally in achieving energy saving goals, without causing disruptions to economic activities and operations of affected business sectors,” she said.
Previously, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto stated that this policy applies to ASN and is also encouraged for the private sector. “(The rules) for WFH will be detailed. But after Eid, we will implement it. For ASN as well as encouragement for the private sector. But not for those working in public service sectors,” Airlangga said on Saturday, 21 March 2026, as quoted from Antara.
The WFH policy will only apply for one day per week. Airlangga added that the government will also coordinate with the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Home Affairs to ensure effective implementation.
Working from home is an efficiency measure implemented by the government to anticipate the impact of the war in the Middle East, which has caused a surge in global oil prices in recent times. The government views fuel oil (BBM) savings as necessary in this situation.