Purbaya states WFH policy has been decided and will be announced soon
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has stated that the decision regarding the work-from-home (WFH) policy has been taken and will be announced in the near future.
Purbaya emphasised that although the decision is final, it is not he who will communicate the policy to the public.
“It has been decided, it will be announced later, it’s not me who will speak, not me (announcing) later, it will be the Coordinating Minister for the Economy (Airlangga Hartarto),” said Purbaya in Jakarta on Wednesday.
In response to the government’s target that the WFH policy could reduce fuel oil (BBM) consumption by up to 20 per cent, Purbaya acknowledged calculations estimating a decline in consumption, though not yet certain.
He stressed that the impact of the WFH policy cannot be viewed from just one angle.
Increased economic activity, in his view, has the potential to boost state revenues. A rise in economic activity will positively affect businesses and ultimately increase tax receipts.
“My savings might not be there, because economic activity rises, businesses grow quickly, consumption increases. But if taxes also rise in line with that, then I’m benefiting too,” he explained.
Furthermore, the State Treasurer emphasised that the government’s approach to assessing policy impacts is comprehensive.
Regarding the plan to implement WFH on Fridays as stated by Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Purbaya views the choice of that day as considering the smallest impact on productivity.
“If it’s a day off, the one chosen is the one with the smallest impact on productivity; Friday has the shortest working hours anyway. So the loss to productivity is considered the smallest,” he added.
Nevertheless, he could not yet confirm whether the policy would be mandatory for the private sector.
“I don’t know. Clearly, factories and such won’t join. Is private sector mandatory? Maybe just an appeal. I don’t know. Government is mandatory,” he concluded.