Notes for Civil Servants on WFH: From Long Weekends to Periodic Evaluations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian government has officially implemented a work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) every Friday, starting from Wednesday (1/4/2026). This one-day-per-week WFH policy is regulated in Circular Letter (SE) Number 800.1.5/3349/SJ on the Transformation of Civil Servant Work Culture in Local Government Environments. The Minister for State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB), Rini Widyantini, mandates that every agency conduct periodic evaluations during the implementation of Friday WFH. However, several parties assess that the transition to this Friday WFH work culture for ASN could instead trigger long weekends, which are feared to reduce ASN productivity and thus impact public services. Member of Commission II of the DPR, Ujang Bey, warns that the Friday WFH policy should not be exploited by ASN to leave home for long holidays. “Indeed, there were some concerns from friends in Commission II yesterday; don’t let this weekend WFH policy be seen as a long holiday and used as an opportunity to holiday with family or hang out with friends,” Ujang told Kompas.com on Wednesday (1/4/2026). “Because no matter how good the policy is, if it’s not followed and there are no sanctions for violators, I think it’s pointless; it will only become a subject of public ridicule,” he explained. Member of Commission II of the DPR from the PKB Faction, Muhammad Khozin, also expressed the same concerns as Ujang regarding the long weekend. “Although in our view, this day’s choice is not ideal because it’s feared it will turn into a long weekend, but the government has discretionary authority in determining WFH as a manifestation of government administration,” Khozin told Kompas.com on Wednesday (1/4/2026). Therefore, Khozin requests that the implementation of Friday WFH for ASN be evaluated periodically and supervised consistently by ministries, agencies, and local governments. He encourages the government to ensure that the implementation of Friday WFH meets the target of reducing fuel oil (BBM) consumption and maintains ASN productivity. “Cross-ministry and agency coordination must be carried out. Once again, this momentum must be utilised for the common good,” Khozin added.