WFH Policy Deemed Ineffective in Reducing Fuel Consumption
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The policy of working from home (WFH) for private sector workers is deemed insufficiently effective in suppressing fuel oil (BBM) consumption.
The government, through the Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker), has urged private companies to implement WFH for one day per week starting from 1 April.
This urging is outlined in Circular Letter Number M6HK04/III of 2026 on Work From Home and the Energy Optimisation Programme in the Workplace.
The government is indeed striving to suppress BBM consumption as global oil prices surge due to the war in West Asia (Middle East), which is straining fiscal resilience.
BBM supplies are also being sourced from other countries such as Russia and the United States (US) because the supply chain from Gulf countries has been disrupted.
“Private company leaders, state-owned enterprises, and regional owned enterprises are urged to implement work from home or WFH for workers or labourers for one working day per week according to company conditions, and the WFH working hours are regulated by the company,” said Minister of Manpower Yassierli at his office in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/4/2026).
President of the Indonesian Confederation of Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal stated that the policy tends to be applicable only to white-collar workers.
“The policy might allow WFH only in offices in Sudirman, Kuningan, and a small part of big cities,” said Said when contacted by Kompas.com on Monday (11/5/2026).
According to Said, the WFH policy cannot be applied in labour-intensive sectors such as factories.
Production wheels in that industry require workers to come directly.
If the policy is forced to be implemented in labour-intensive industries, it risks suppressing company productivity and ultimately threatens the fate of employees.
“So for factories, the WFH policy is not effective,” said Said.
Therefore, Said views that the WFH policy of one day per week for the private sector is not sufficient to suppress BBM consumption.
“WFH is not effective in suppressing BBM consumption,” said Said.
Like Said, President of the All-Indonesian Trade Union Association (Aspirasi) Mirah Sumirat also stated that the WFH urging for the private sector cannot be applied evenly.
Aspirasi monitors that the policy so far has only been implemented in administration and services sectors.
However, labour-intensive companies or industries cannot implement that policy.
“Field work, the majority of workers continue to work normally because the nature of the work requires direct presence at the workplace,” said Mirah.
Mirah received reports regarding allegations of working hours violations in companies implementing WFH.
Workers should work according to the agreed working hours between both parties and as stipulated in company regulations, just as when they are in the office.
However, due to this savings policy, workers are asked to do it outside working hours.
“In the field, there are reports that workers are still required to be on standby and respond to work outside working hours, so working time exceeds the applicable provisions,” revealed Mirah.
Aspirasi also reminds private companies to pay attention to worker rights protection, working hours, and rest time.
“It should not be used as an excuse to increase workload without mutual agreement with workers or trade unions,” she said.