Home Affairs Minister Reminds Regions to Comply with WFH: Proof of Loyalty to the Centre

Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian stated that local governments are obliged to follow the central government’s policy on working from home (WFH), as instructed by the national administration. Nevertheless, Tito noted that local governments have the flexibility to determine the proportional distribution of civil servants (ASN) working from home and those working from the office (WFO).

“This policy must be implemented in principle. However, the proportionality is left to the regions, at their discretion. How many do WFH, how many do WFO,” Tito said at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Monday, 13 April 2026.

According to the former Chief of the Indonesian National Police, compliance by local governments can demonstrate their loyalty to central government policies. Tito believes that WFH every Friday for ASN can boost productivity as well as effectiveness.

“As a national policy, it must be followed. To show that the regions are also loyal to the central government. This is in the context of transforming work culture to be more effective and efficient,” Tito stated.

The work-from-home policy every Friday for ASN began on 1 April 2026. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said that besides saving energy, the policy encourages digital-based government governance. Friday was chosen because activities on that day are considered less intense than other working days.

Several local governments have not yet implemented the WFH policy every Friday. For example, the Semarang City Government is still studying it. Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti is seeking ways to ensure the policy does not disrupt services to the public.

“I have asked for a meeting to discuss it, and at the same time, we request specific actions beyond just WFH. The point is, wherever they work, public services in Semarang City must not be disrupted as the top priority,” Agustina said in Semarang on Friday, 10 April 2026, as quoted from Antara.