Global Conflict Spurs Prabowo to Consider Work-From-Home Policy to Conserve Fuel
Jakarta — President Prabowo Subianto is considering implementing a work-from-home (WFH) policy to conserve fuel consumption domestically in response to conflicts affecting global oil prices in the Middle East and Europe.
During a full cabinet session on Friday, 13 March 2026, at the State Palace, President Prabowo instructed that fuel prices could influence multiple sectors including food supplies. He emphasised the need to accelerate proactive measures for fuel conservation.
“We face developments occurring globally in Europe and the Middle East, which will impact us through fuel prices. Fuel costs also affect food prices. We have secured basic food security, and we already have fuel conservation plans that we will accelerate, but we must also take proactive steps to reduce fuel consumption. We cannot assume we are safe regardless of global developments whilst making no effort to reduce our fuel consumption. Many countries have already taken such measures,” Prabowo stated at the cabinet session on Saturday, 14 March 2026.
Prabowo noted that numerous countries have implemented fuel conservation measures, citing Pakistan as an example. He presented a slide detailing Pakistan’s response to global oil price volatility.
“This is merely for comparison—they consider this critical, hence the term critical measures,” Prabowo explained.
He elaborated that Pakistan has implemented policies reminiscent of the Covid-19 pandemic, requiring private and government offices to operate with 50% of staff working from home. Additionally, working hours have been reduced to four days per week.
“They have even reduced salaries for cabinet members, parliamentarians, and all salary savings are pooled to assist the most vulnerable groups,” Prabowo said.
Pakistan has also implemented fuel allocation cuts across all ministries and mandated that 60% of government vehicles remain unused daily.
“They have also halted all air-conditioning purchases, vehicle acquisitions, furniture purchases, across all government institutions for an indefinite period,” he noted.
These measures include reducing official travel and prohibiting government spending on events. All higher education institutions have also shifted to online learning.
However, Prabowo described these measures as examples his administration could study for domestic application.
“I believe we must pursue fuel conservation. I am confident that within 2-3 years we will be very strong, but we must conserve consumption. This way, we hope to ensure our deficit does not increase. My aspiration is that we may not have a deficit at all,” Prabowo said.