Finance Minister Assures WFH Will Not Disrupt National Economic Productivity

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa believes that the work-from-home (WFH) policy currently being prepared by the government will not disrupt national economic productivity and could even offer efficiency in energy use. According to him, from both fiscal and economic activity perspectives, the WFH policy will not have a significant impact on national productivity if applied selectively. “No (it won’t disrupt), if we choose carefully. If we choose Friday, there will definitely be fuel savings of some percentage, I don’t know the details because it can vary depending on oil prices,” Purbaya said when met at the Presidential Palace Complex in Jakarta on Friday. He explained that strategic sectors such as the manufacturing industry and public services will continue to operate normally because not all types of work can be done remotely. In addition, the implementation of WFH is seen as potentially reducing fuel oil (BBM) consumption due to decreased public mobility, although the amount of savings still depends on oil prices. “For productivity, for factories and so on that require continuous work, they don’t have to do it. And for public services, they will continue. So it should be fine if it’s just one day. Our total productivity won’t be too disrupted,” Purbaya clarified. He added that discussions regarding the WFH policy are still ongoing at the government level and are being directly monitored by President Prabowo Subianto. According to him, the government is still holding a series of follow-up meetings to refine the implementation scheme of the policy before it is officially announced. “The President is monitoring it directly. This will soon be announced by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy (Airlangga Hartarto),” he added.