Friday WFH for Private Sector is Merely an Appeal: Are Companies Complying?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The government’s policy of work from home (WFH) every Friday was initially met with enthusiasm by private sector workers. Their hopes were simple: more flexible work rhythms, more efficient time use, and improved quality of life. However, in practice, the reality is different; WFH for the private sector turns out not to be an obligation, but merely an appeal. As a result, the implementation of this policy heavily depends on the decisions of each company. This situation creates a gap between workers’ expectations and field practices, while also affirming that without binding regulations, the WFH policy in the private sector remains optional and has not yet become a new work standard. Unlike civil servants (ASN) who have a clear policy basis, the private sector is in a grey area. The government, through the Ministry of Manpower, does encourage the implementation of WFH one day a week, but its execution is entirely left to each company. President of the Indonesian Workers’ Union Association (ASPEK) Mirah Sumirat assesses that this policy has not yet run effectively in the private sector. “To be honest, the WFH appeal in the private sector has not run optimally, even tending to be ignored,” said Mirah to Kompas.com on Monday (4/5/2026). “Many companies treat this policy only as a formality, not as a serious step to protect workers,” she added. From the business side, the decision to implement WFH is not a simple matter. There are business considerations that cannot be ignored, from operational efficiency to work productivity. Chairman of the Manpower Sector of Apindo Bob Azam said that the implementation of WFH in the private sector very much depends on the needs of each industry. “It’s an appeal, after all, especially a government appeal. The private sector can follow it or not. Those who don’t, it’s related to their business productivity issues,” he stated when contacted by Kompas.com on Tuesday (5/5/2026).