Work From Home for Civil Servants Extended by Two Months, UGM Expert Warns of Risks to Public Services

Jakarta, Kompas.com - A public policy expert from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Agustinus Subarsono, says that work from home (WFH) policies for civil servants remain effective in large cities as they can reduce mobility density and worker stress. However, he cautions that the policy could compromise the quality of public services if there is no clear work arrangement and standard operating procedures (SOPs) in each agency.

He made the remarks in response to a statement by Airlangga Hartarto, the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, who said that WFH for civil servants and the private sector would be extended for two months. According to Agustinus, the effectiveness of WFH in the private and public sectors is measured differently. He noted that in the private sector, WFH is considered effective as long as work targets are met and company profits do not fall. In the public sector, however, effectiveness is defined by whether services to the public continue.

“In the public sector, WFH is said to be effective if public services continue, and the public can still access services even if some civil servants are working from home,” he said.

Agustinus noted that the positive impact of WFH is most evident in major cities such as Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar, and Semarang, where it can reduce daily mobility density among residents.

“ In major cities such as Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, Bandung, Makassar and Semarang, WFH will be felt as reducing residents’ mobility density,” he said.

He added that the current WFH implementation references Circular Letter of the Minister for Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform (PANRB) No. 3 of 2026, which grants authority to the Head of the Personnel Development Official (PPK) or agency heads to regulate working mechanisms according to the characteristics of duties and conditions of each agency.

“Thus, under these two circulars, each Ministry and regional government must develop a working mechanism or SOP during WFH,” Agustinus said. He regards the existence of SOPs as important to ensure public services continue to operate optimally during WFH.

However, he questioned the readiness of all regions to prepare such working mechanisms.