Bandung City Government Prepares to Implement Central Government's WFH Policy for Civil Servants
The Bandung City Government is ready to follow the central government’s policy on implementing work from home (WFH) for civil servants (ASN) for one day per week after Eid al-Fitr. This policy is considered to have the potential to positively impact the tourism sector in Bandung City.
Bandung City Secretary Iskandar Zulkarnain on Wednesday (25/3) stated that they are still awaiting official technical guidelines from the central government. The proposal was only conveyed verbally by the central government so far. Nevertheless, the Bandung City Government has made various preparations as an anticipatory step if the policy is officially implemented.
These preparations include a work scheme to remain aligned with public service needs, which will then be adjusted according to central regulations. One option being considered is implementing WFH on Fridays.
“This scheme has great potential to increase tourist visits to Bandung City. If, for example, Fridays are WFH days, people can arrive in Bandung earlier. This will certainly have a positive impact,” he explained.
Iskandar assessed that Bandung City, as a tourist destination, has significant opportunities to leverage this policy to drive local economic growth, especially in the tourism sector. If visits increase, it will certainly be beneficial. However, WFH implementation must still consider the quality of public services. He assured that services to the public must not be disrupted by this policy.
“In principle, public services must continue to run optimally. That is the priority,” he stated.
In addition, Iskandar continued, the Bandung City Government will also conduct evaluations regarding the implementation day for WFH once the policy is officially set by the central government. “We’ll see later whether it’s Friday, Monday, or Tuesday. We will evaluate according to needs,” he added.
Meanwhile, post-Eid al-Fitr conditions were observed to be safe and conducive. Various potential issues anticipated by the government, such as waste, security, and illegal parking, were handled well. During the Eid al-Fitr holiday period, the City Government anticipated several potential vulnerabilities, especially related to the surge in tourists coming to Bandung City. Several main aspects of concern included waste management, area security, and cracking down on illegal parking at various crowded spots.
“Although detailed data on the number of tourists has not yet been fully compiled, I see an increase in visit activity to Bandung City during the holiday period. Visually, tourist visits were quite high, but the data is still being summarised,” he emphasised.