Golkar proposes three provinces as priority for work-from-home policy amid Middle East conflict
Golkar party has responded to discussion of work-from-home (WFH) policy to conserve fuel in response to Middle East conflict. Golkar has proposed that the policy be thoroughly examined before implementation.
“The discourse must be comprehensively assessed before being applied. This includes other options and scenarios in responding to war in the Middle East. Savings measures are short-term policy steps. What is most important is maintaining energy supply availability and controlling inflation,” said Ahmad Irawan, Head of Golkar’s Commission II Caucus in the House of Representatives, when contacted on Tuesday (17/3/2026).
Ahmad Irawan proposed that the WFH policy could be implemented in three provinces starting with Jakarta, West Java, and Banten due to high fuel consumption. Meanwhile, he stated, other regions do not necessarily need to implement WFH.
“For example, considering regions with high fuel consumption such as Jakarta, West Java and Banten, which according to data account for 30 percent of national fuel consumption due to the megapolitan area. Other regions perhaps do not have to implement WFH like these three regions. So it must be calculated carefully, including its economic impact,” he explained.
He requested the government to assess and map the situation first before implementing the WFH discourse. He stated that WFH policy should only be emergency in nature.
“WFH should also be viewed as an emergency response, meaning it is temporary. So psychologically, the public and business actors must also be informed in advance about the steps that will be taken,” he said.
Previously, President Prabowo Subianto stated that several countries have taken adaptive measures in facing the conflict situation in West Asia or the Middle East. Prabowo then gave the example of Pakistan, which also cut the salaries of cabinet members and parliamentarians.
This was conveyed by Prabowo while leading a full cabinet session at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Friday (13/3). Prabowo emphasised that the government cannot ensure safety without taking proactive steps.
Prabowo stated that Pakistan implemented work from home for both government and private sectors. Working days were also reduced to four days.
“So they consider this to be critical, so it is called critical measures. As if for them this is like we experienced during COVID. They implement work from home for all offices, government and private, 50 percent working from home. Then their working days are cut to just four days,” he said.
Prabowo continued, Pakistan also cut the salaries of ministers and House of Representatives members. The budget adjustment was used to assist vulnerable communities.