Labour Minister Emphasises WFH Must Not Reduce Workers' Salaries and Leave Rights

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — The Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli has provided assurances of protection for workers implementing the work from home (WFH) pattern in accordance with Circular Letter (SE) No. 6 of 2026. The Minister emphasised that the implementation of WFH for one day per week must not be used by companies as a reason to cut the basic rights of workers or employees.

This statement was made by Yassierli in response to workers’ concerns regarding the potential application of the no work no pay principle or other reductions in rights when working outside the office. In the SE, the government explicitly stipulates that wages, salaries, and other allowances must continue to be paid in full in accordance with the applicable provisions in the company.

“We hope that this WFH policy does not reduce employees’ rights. WFH does not cut annual leave quotas,” Yassierli said at the Ministry of Manpower building on Wednesday (1/4/2026).

“With this SE, the concerns of labour unions that when WFH occurs there might be indications of reductions in rights are thereby refuted. Therefore, all rights are guaranteed through this SE,” he added.

Furthermore, Yassierli urged company management to ensure that performance and service quality are maintained even when employees work remotely. He also encouraged intensive dialogue between company leaders and workers’ unions in designing the technical aspects of WFH to ensure it remains fair and productive for both parties.

To anticipate any violations in the field, the Ministry of Manpower has prepared labour supervision teams at both central and regional levels. The Minister also invited workers not to hesitate to report any deviations in the implementation of this policy through the government’s official complaint channels.

“We already have the ‘Lapor Menaker’ complaint channel. So, at the same time, we urge that if anything happens, please report it to us; we have the Lapor Menaker channel, and our supervisors will follow up,” he said.