Differences in Government-Imposed WFH for Civil Servants and Private Sector

The government has officially implemented a work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) and the private sector. However, there are differences in the implementation of this flexible working arrangement between ASN and the private sector. The following outlines the differences in WFH application for ASN and the private sector, as compiled by Kompas.com: The government has officially enacted a WFH policy every Friday for ASN, newly applied on Friday (10/4/2026). This WFH implementation for ASN every Friday is one of the government’s policies to save or achieve efficiency, particularly in energy, following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East. “WFH for ASN in central and regional agencies will be carried out for one working day per week, namely every Friday,” said Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto when announcing the policy on Tuesday (31/3/2026). Airlangga also emphasised that public services will continue to operate despite the WFH policy every Friday. “Public services will remain operational, and productive activities including banking, capital markets, and others will continue. Those in offices are permitted to arrange it using certain applications,” said Airlangga. The Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli explained that he has issued a circular on WFH for one day per week for private companies. However, he clarified that its implementation is only a recommendation, not mandatory like the WFH policy for ASN every Friday. “I also conveyed to Commission IX (DPR) that it is in the nature of a recommendation,” said Yassierli during a working meeting with Commission IX of the DPR, quoted from the TVR Parlemen YouTube broadcast on Friday (10/4/2026). Therefore, the Minister of Manpower’s Circular (SE) Number M/6/HK.04/III/2026 on WFH and Optimisation of Energy Utilisation in the Workplace is merely advisory.