Indonesian Employees Prepare for Weekly Work From Anywhere: Economist Calls Policy Apt!

Economists consider the government’s proposed Work From Anywhere (WFA) policy for workers in Indonesia, allowing one day per week, to be an appropriate measure for saving fuel consumption amid global turbulence. BCA Chief Economist David Sumual stated that the WFA policy can serve as a way to reduce consumption and potentially save on fuel imports, given the high global oil prices due to the war in the Middle East. “So our consumption is higher than our oil production, which is also tending to decline. Now it’s around 600,000 barrels per day, so it has to be imported. At high prices, this is also a burden on the state budget because the subsidies swell,” said David when contacted by CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (25/3/2026). Nevertheless, David does not deny that there are consequences, such as impacts on the mobility sector and SMEs. “At high prices, this is also a burden on the state budget because the subsidies swell,” said David when contacted by CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (25/3/2026). Nevertheless, David does not deny that there are consequences, such as impacts on the mobility sector and SMEs. “If this (WFA) is implemented, it could affect sectors related to public mobility in particular. For example, logistics, transport, and SMEs like small traders around office areas,” said David. Therefore, David suggests additional policies to protect the affected sectors, such as direct government assistance like during the Covid pandemic. “Perhaps we need to think about how to mitigate for those sectors. Because during the pandemic, there was government assistance,” he said. Meanwhile, Global Markets Economist at Maybank Indonesia Myrdal Gunarto said that the WFA programme is fine to implement for fuel savings. “It’s fine and for WFA it’s used one day. So the spirit is to achieve fiscal efficiency without sacrificing economic growth momentum,” said Myrdal to CNBC Indonesia when contacted on Wednesday (25/3/2026). According to him, this WFA policy is an alternative used by the government to avoid raising fuel prices when world crude oil prices surge. He also said that if there is any economic weakening due to WFA, the impact would not be as severe as if the government chose to raise subsidised fuel and gas prices. “Even if there is economic activity weakening due to WFA activities, I think the impact is not as severe as the second-round impact from raising subsidised fuel prices. Economists from Bank Danamon Indonesia, Hosianna Evalita Situmorang, also stated that WFA could be a short-term solution to save fuel consumption.”Looking at the urgency, it’s to maintain the deficit and inflation; one step is WFH as a short-term solution,” said Hosianna to CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (25/3/2026).