Commission II: WFH on Fridays Not Ideal, Will Turn into Long Weekend

Commission II DPR member from the PKB faction, Muhammad Khozin, has criticised the selection of Friday as the day for work from home (WFH) for civil servants (ASN).

Khozin deems the choice of Friday unideal because it has the potential to turn into a long weekend or extended holiday at the end of the week for ASN.

“In our view, this choice is not ideal because it is feared it will turn into a long weekend,” said Khozin when contacted on Wednesday (1/4).

Nevertheless, he stated that the government has the discretion and authority to determine the WFH day in the government administration system.

However, he requested that the implementation of WFH every Friday be evaluated and monitored periodically, both by ministries, agencies, and regional governments. According to him, WFH must be able to patch or save fuel oil (BBM) consumption in the internal government sector.

“Ensure that the implementation of WFH on Fridays meets the target of reducing BBM consumption. In addition, ASN productivity must remain maintained in providing public services,” said Khozin.

Beyond that, he added, he encourages the central and regional governments to utilise this momentum to seriously design public transportation in the regions. The implementation of WFH, he said, must also become a momentum for controlling air pollution.

Therefore, he said, WFH is not merely a bureaucratic matter, but also a moment to improve public transportation and pollution control in the regions.

“Cross-ministerial and agency coordination must be carried out. Once again, this momentum must be utilised for the common good,” he said.

The government has officially implemented the WFH system for ASN one day a week every Friday to achieve energy efficiency in the face of global conflicts. The government is also limiting the use of official vehicles and encouraging the use of public transportation.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto estimated that the WFH policy would save the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) by up to Rp6.2 trillion.

“The potential savings from this Work from Home policy directly to the APBN is Rp6.2 trillion, in the form of BBM compensation savings,” he said during an online press conference on Tuesday (31/3).