DPR Member Comments on Policy to Place Civil Servants Near Their Hometowns

House of Representatives Commission IX member Netty Prasetiyani has welcomed the National Civil Service Agency’s (BKN) policy to place civil servants (ASN) in assignments closer to their domiciles and families. She believes this policy can alleviate mental health issues often experienced by civil servants due to postings that require them to live far from their families. With improved psychological conditions, the policy is expected to have a positive impact on morale and work productivity. “Hopefully this will minimise problems caused by long-distance marriages experienced by civil servants,” Netty said in a written statement on Saturday, 25 July 2026. According to Netty, this policy, especially for those working in the health sector, is expected to improve service quality. By being close to their families, the mental health of healthcare workers can be better maintained, including efforts to reduce stress levels, so that the public will benefit from more excellent services. However, Netty stated that this policy must still be implemented with caution, prioritising organisational needs and the equitable distribution of public services. She therefore reminded the BKN to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the policy’s implementation, from its impact on productivity, organisational effectiveness, and service quality, to budget efficiency. “If the results of this trial show real benefits, this policy deserves to be considered for wider application,” said the legislator from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction. Head of BKN Zudan Arif Fakrulloh explained the rationale behind the policy to place civil servants closer to their domiciles and families. By working closer to their families, civil servants are expected to have increased motivation. He said that in the initial stage, this policy has been piloted for BKN employees by placing staff within the central office, regional offices, and technical implementation units. “So that employees can perform better because they feel happier after being reunited with their families. Employees can also manage their economic conditions better as they are no longer burdened by transportation and accommodation costs,” Zudan was quoted as saying from an official BKN publication on Saturday.