WFH for Civil Servants Every Friday Saves Fuel, But Household Electricity Costs Rise

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The work-from-home (WFH) policy for civil servants (ASN) that has been in place for about a month is now entering a crucial phase.

The government is beginning to evaluate its effectiveness, not only in terms of budgetary efficiency but also its impact on the economy at large, including the burden shifting to civil servants’ households.

Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa emphasised that the continuation of the WFH policy, currently implemented every Friday, will heavily depend on global dynamics, particularly world oil prices.

Nevertheless, he assessed that the policy’s impact on the economy so far has been neutral to positive.

The government also acknowledges other factors hindering economic growth, for which improvement measures are currently being prepared.

Behind the efficiency narrative, the government estimates that the WFH policy could save up to Rp 6.2 trillion in fuel subsidies.

Economist from Andalas University, Syafruddin Karimi, views this figure as more of a macroeconomic projection rather than a fiscal realisation.

He explained that the largest component of savings likely comes from reduced mobility of civil servants, rather than efficiency in office buildings or facilities.

“That figure is still in the nature of ‘could save’, so it hasn’t actually occurred in the state budget yet,” he told Kompas.com on Wednesday (6/5/2026).