Government Implements WFH Every Friday for Civil Servants
The government has established a policy of working from home, or work from home (WFH), once a week for civil servants. This WFH policy is a measure to save fuel in the midst of global oil price fluctuations due to the war between the United States and Israel against Iran in the Middle East.
The policy was announced by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto in a press statement during an official visit to Seoul, South Korea. “The implementation of work from home for ASN in central and regional agencies will be carried out for one working day per week,” said Airlangga, quoted from the Presidential Secretariat broadcast, Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
According to Airlangga, the WFH scheme is regulated through a circular from the Minister of State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform as well as the Minister of Home Affairs. This policy, said Airlangga, also aims to encourage digital-based government governance.
He stated that Friday was designated as the WFH day because work activities on that day are not as intensive as other days. “We chose Friday because Friday is half a day, meaning not as full as Monday to Thursday,” said the former General Chairman of the Golkar Party.
On the other hand, said Airlangga, there are sectors that are excluded from the WFH policy for ASN. Workers in public service sectors, such as health, security, and cleanliness, will continue to work from the office. The WFH policy also does not apply to other strategic sectors such as industry or production, energy, water, basic food and beverages, trade, transportation, as well as logistics and finance.
Airlangga conveyed that WFH once a week will apply starting from 1 April 2026. The government will evaluate the implementation of the policy after two months of execution.
He continued that the WFH policy for workers in the private sector will be regulated separately through a circular from the Minister of Manpower. “While still considering the characteristics and needs of each business sector,” he said.
This policy on WFH for civil servants and private employees emerged in mid-March 2026. President Prabowo Subianto, in a cabinet meeting at the State Palace, encouraged steps to save fuel consumption.
Prabowo considered the WFH policy as a precautionary measure against the impact of the global crisis. Especially after the surge in world oil prices that occurred due to the outbreak of the war between the United States and Israel against Iran at the end of February 2026.