Prabowo Proposes Work-from-Home Policy to Save Fuel Amid Middle East Conflict
President Prabowo Subianto has put forward a proposal in response to the impact of the Middle East conflict. Prabowo proposed that both government and private sector organisations implement work-from-home arrangements to save fuel.
The proposal, modelled on Pakistan’s experience, also includes reducing the working week to four days. “They regard this as already critical, so it is called critical measures. It is as though for them this is like it was for us during COVID. They have implemented work-from-home for all offices, both government and private, with 50 per cent working from home. Then they reduced their working week to just four days,” he said during a full cabinet meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Friday, 13 March 2026.
Beyond this, Prabowo also discussed salary cuts for cabinet and parliamentary members similar to Pakistan’s approach. “Many countries have already taken steps. Perhaps the Cabinet Secretary has a slide to show how many steps there are. Here is Pakistan’s approach. This is merely for comparison,” Prabowo said, whilst presenting a graphic presentation on Pakistan’s government measures during a crisis situation.
“They have even reduced salaries for cabinet members, for parliamentary members, and all these salary savings are collected to help the most vulnerable or weak groups,” he added.
Prabowo continued that Pakistan has also cut all fuel allocations to all ministries and mandated that 60 per cent of government vehicles remain unused at any given time. Pakistan has also halted all foreign procurement, vehicle purchases, furniture purchases, and all government institutions for an indefinite period.
“They have stopped all foreign visits, they reduce and prohibit using government funds for festive events. Then all higher education institutions have moved online. Then all schools have stopped for two weeks, yes, this is probably in anticipation of Eid al-Fitr,” he said.
Golkar Party Prioritises Three Regions
The Golkar Party has responded to the work-from-home proposal. Golkar suggested that the policy be thoroughly assessed. “This proposal must be examined comprehensively before it is implemented. This includes other options and scenarios in responding to the war in the Middle East. Cost-saving measures are short-term policy. Most importantly is maintaining energy supply availability and controlling inflation,” said Ahmad Irawan, a member of Commission II of the House of Representatives, when contacted on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
Irawan proposed that the WFH policy could be implemented in three provinces starting from Jakarta, West Java (Jabar) to Banten due to high fuel consumption. Meanwhile, in other regions, he said, WFH does not need to be enforced.
“For example, consideration of regions with high fuel consumption such as Jakarta, West Java, and Banten which, according to data, account for 30 per cent of national fuel consumption due to the metropolitan area. Other regions perhaps do not need to have WFH like in those three regions. So it must be calculated carefully, including the economic impact,” he explained.
He urged the government to assess and map the situation first before implementing the WFH proposal. He noted that the WFH policy should only be emergency in nature.
“WFH should also be viewed as an emergency response, meaning it is temporary only. So psychologically, the public and business actors should also first be informed about the steps that will be taken,” he said.
Pramono Ready to Follow Guidance
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that he is ready to follow such guidance if it comes. Initially, Pramono conveyed that all needs in preparation for Eid al-Fitr, including LPG, are being met in Jakarta.
“First, I want to convey that Jakarta in preparing for Eid al-Fitr has all its needs, including energy, LPG and so on, being met well. In fact, reserves are still sufficient and there has been a slight increase,” Pramono told journalists on Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
He said that price increases for essential goods including chilli and meat continue to occur. However, overall, stock levels in Jakarta are secure.
“Jakarta is in no way in this price issue being poorly monitored and we will monitor it until after Eid,” he explained.
When asked about Prabowo’s guidance regarding WFH, Pramono emphasised that whatever guidance comes from the central government will be implemented. He stated that the war in Iran will put pressure on energy provision, particularly gas and fuel.
“As for work-from-home, then whatever guidance comes from the central government will be implemented in DKI Jakarta as well. Because in any case this war that has gone on too long, the war, what, in Iran that has lasted,” he explained.
“This will certainly put pressure on energy provision, especially for gas and also for fuel. And the prices are indeed currently experiencing significant increases,” he added.
Pramono affirmed that he would implement the WFH policy once it becomes central government guidance. “And for that, the Jakarta provincial government, if the central government implements it comprehensively, we will follow it. So Jakarta will follow it,” he concluded.