DPR Urges Earlier Payment of Eid Bonus to Boost Economy
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Member of Commission IX of the DPR RI, Edy Wuryanto, expressed concern that the current policy of paying Eid bonuses (THR) only H-7 before Eid al-Fitr 2026 may hinder the implementation of the Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy before and after Eid, specifically on March 16-17 and March 25-27, 2026.
The WFA policy aims to facilitate smoother travel during the Eid homecoming and return periods while also boosting the economy.
Edy urged that the payment of Eid bonuses be advanced to H-14 before Eid. He believes this move would have several strategic benefits.
“Earlier payment of THR provides more time for law enforcement in case of violations,” Edy said in an official statement on the DPR website, Thursday (February 26, 2026).
Furthermore, the politician from the PDI-Perjuangan faction emphasized that based on previous years’ experiences with THR payments, there are still employers who engage in fraudulent practices. Usually, disputes regarding THR are addressed or resolved after Eid al-Fitr. However, this Eid period includes many public holidays. As a result, it will be difficult to process reports if there are disputes.
“The labor supervisors in the regions will be on holiday, and they will not have time to handle reports,” he said.
In addition, he believes that paying H-14 provides workers with the opportunity to better prepare for the Eid festivities. Given the tendency for price increases or inflation leading up to Eid, workers can purchase essential goods earlier to avoid price surges.
“THR is not a new policy. It is a policy that has been in place for a long time, and every company has already budgeted for it. The earlier it is paid, the better for workers and the economy,” said Edy.
To support this, Edy urged the Ministry of Labor to revise Minister of Labor Regulation No. 6 of 2016, which stipulates that THR payments must be made no later than H-7 before Eid. “It should be H-14 before Eid al-Fitr,” Edy emphasized.
Regarding WFA, Edy conveyed several important points. First, the government has set public holidays, which reduce annual leave for private sector workers, while for civil servants, it does not. He believes this needs to be addressed to avoid creating a sense of unfairness among private sector workers.
The government’s appeal to private companies to implement WFA without reducing annual leave must have a legal basis. According to Edy, this policy is just a statement from officials.
Second, companies have essentially planned their production processes, including the public holiday schedule. If the WFA policy is added, it could disrupt productivity, especially in sectors where work cannot be done remotely.
Therefore, Edy emphasized the importance of first engaging in dialogue with labor stakeholders, including the Indonesian Employers Association (APINDO) and the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN).
Edy also reminded that if WFA is intended to encourage household consumption, its impact needs to be carefully calculated. According to him, after Eid, workers’ financial condition usually declines due to spending during Eid al-Fitr.
“We must ensure that the assumption of increased consumption is balanced with the reality of purchasing power,” said Edy.