WFH Saves Fuel, DPR Member Warns of Impact on Ride-Hailing and SMEs
A member of Commission II of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Edi Oloan Pasaribu, has reminded that the implementation of work from home or WFH to save on fuel for one day per week is only effective as a short-term solution. The government, he said, cannot make it a permanent or long-term solution.
“WFH for one day per week for civil servants and private sector workers in the context of saving fuel due to global oil prices, I think, is quite effective, but that solution can only be effective for the short term, not for the long term,” said Edi in his statement on Tuesday (24/3/2026).
Edi emphasised the importance of the government creating holistic projections and policies. He highlighted that not all work sectors can implement the WFH scheme.
Therefore, he asked the government to ensure that the policy does not disrupt performance productivity, both in government agencies and the private sector.
“The government must be able to project and create holistic policies, because not all sectors can do WFH. Do not let WFH affect performance productivity,” he said.
He also asked the government to calculate this policy carefully, cautiously, and remain adaptive to the dynamics of global political issues that often affect national economic stability.
Furthermore, Edi reminded of the broad domino effect from reducing public mobility. According to him, the WFH policy will directly impact the economic ecosystem of the lower middle class that depends on worker movements.
He spotlighted the fate of SME actors, transportation services such as online motorcycle taxis (ojol), and small traders around office areas who could lose income if public mobility is restricted.
“We cannot view this only from the aspect of reducing mobility to save fuel. We must think about how SMEs, transportation service communities, even small traders whose income depends on private sector workers, civil servants, and other transportation services,” explained Edi.
The government will soon announce a decision on the implementation of work from home or WFH. The policy is currently under review in response to the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Muhammad Tito Karnavian, revealed that the option of Work From Home or WFH for one day per week is gaining strength in the latest cross-ministerial meeting.
The Bandung City Government is ready to follow the central government’s policy regarding the discourse on implementing work from home or WFH for civil servants (ASN) for one day per week.
East Java is finalising the scheme for implementing Work From Home or WFH for East Java civil servants (ASN). However, it will not choose Friday.
An Indef researcher stated that the work from home (WFH) policy has the potential to help government and company budget efficiency but risks hindering the economy.