Jakarta Civil Servants' Official Trips Must Be Approved by Pramono: Not Allowed If Not Beneficial

JAKARTA - Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung has emphasised that civil servants (ASN) within the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government must obtain his direct approval for any official trips. This policy is part of efforts to enhance budget efficiency. “For official trips, those requiring the governor’s direct approval, I certainly review each one individually,” Pramono stated when met at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday (2/4/2026). “If it does not provide benefits to Jakarta, I definitely will not permit it. Even now, almost all kinds of trips, including those by regional-owned enterprises and others, many of which we have not approved,” he added. According to him, this policy is beginning to yield results, particularly in improving administrative efficiency within the provincial government. “Thus, Jakarta is relatively well on track in terms of administrative matters related to efficiency,” Pramono said. Previously, the Minister of Home Affairs (Mendagri) Tito Karnavian had urged regional heads to reduce official trips both domestically and internationally. “Limit/reduce the implementation of domestic official trips by 50 percent and international official trips by 70 percent, and/or reduce the frequency as well as the size of delegations undertaking official trips,” stated one point in Circular Letter Number 800.1.5/3349/SJ on the Transformation of ASN Work Culture in Regional Government Environments, accessed by Kompas.com on Tuesday (31/3/2026). That circular is a follow-up to the government’s policy of implementing work-from-home (WFH) for civil servants (ASN) in the regional government sphere. It is also recommended to use electric vehicles, public transport, bicycles, and other non-fossil fuel-based transport,” he continued. In the same circular, Tito also urged regional heads to prioritise conducting meetings, technical guidance, seminars, conferences, and the like in hybrid or online formats. Furthermore, regional heads are asked to assign Heads of Regional Devices to carry out supervision and control over the implementation of work culture transformation for energy efficiency in the work environment, especially during WFH. “For ASN undertaking WFH, turn off electronic devices, air conditioners, lights, cables from electrical sockets, and other electrical equipment in their respective work rooms and offices; and ensure that the office room conditions are safe,” the circular stated.