Civil Servants Begin First WFH Today, Prepare for Sanctions if Slow to Respond

Some civil servants (ASN) today began implementing work from home (WFH) for the first time as a follow-up to the government’s policy of WFH every Friday, which has been in place since 1 April.

The implementation of WFH is only taking place today because the previous Friday (3/4) coincided with Good Friday holiday.

Based on reports from residents, several roads in Jakarta during working hours were observed to be not too congested. Nevertheless, public transportation such as KRL heading to Jakarta was reported to still be full of passengers.

Interior Minister Tito Karnavian has instructed ASN carrying out WFH on Fridays to remain on standby.

He asked that the ASN’s gadgets remain active, so that work is not disrupted.

“To ensure that ASN are truly carrying out WFH, and then their handphones are required to be active, so that locations can be known through geo-location,” said Tito in a press conference on Tuesday (31/3).

Quoting his statement, ASN are required to respond to calls/messages within a period of less than 5 minutes during WFH. Tito has also prepared several consequences for those who violate it.

First, for those who do not respond to two calls, they will receive a verbal reprimand.

Second, not responding within five minutes without reason will result in a written reprimand.

Finally, for ASN who repeatedly make mistakes, they will face performance evaluation and administrative sanctions.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung emphasised a strict prohibition for employees caught working from entertainment places or cafes (Work From Cafe/WFC).

“Regarding work from cafe or anywhere, if that happens, there will definitely be firm sanction actions for it,” said Pramono at Jakarta City Hall on Wednesday (1/4).

Pramono assured that there will be no leniency in enforcing discipline.

“If caught, it will be destroyed,” said Pramono.

Furthermore, supervision of ASN performance will be carried out strictly through an online attendance system, while also limiting private vehicle mobility.

Pramono reminded that this WFH facility demands full responsibility from employees to remain at their respective residences.

The government is implementing a WFH work scheme for ASN one day a week every Friday for energy efficiency in the face of global conflicts.

“The implementation of WFH for ASN in the centre and regions, one working day per week, namely every Friday, as regulated in the Circular Letter of the Ministry of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform and the Circular Letter of the Minister of Home Affairs,” said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto.

There are several ASN positions at the provincial and district/city levels that are not included in the WFH policy.

In the exposition presented by the Ministry of Home Affairs, there are 11 ASN positions at the provincial level that are excluded from the WFH policy. Two of them are the High Leadership Position Madya and the High Leadership Position Pratama.

Then, at the district/city level, there are 12 ASN positions excluded from the WFH policy. One of them is the sub-district head and village head/sub-district head.