Yesterday: Ministry Budget Cuts to Government WFH Scheme
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Various economic events were reported by the ANTARA News Agency on Thursday (19/3), ranging from plans to set the percentage of ministry budget cuts to a flexible work (work from home/WFH) scheme in response to rising oil prices.
Here is a summary of yesterday’s economic news worth noting today, Friday.
Finance Minister to Set Percentage of Ministry Budget Cuts
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa will directly determine the percentage of budget expenditure cuts for ministries and agencies as an efficiency step for the use of the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN) amid increasing global economic uncertainties due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“I initially asked the ministries to cut their own budgets, but if told to do so, they don’t want to cut; instead, they increase everything. If possible, I will determine how much percentage to cut, and then they can adjust,” said Purbaya at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon.
Prabowo Calls Airlangga to Purbaya to Palace to Discuss Efficiency
President Prabowo Subianto called several ministers, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto, Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa, and Minister of Investment and Downstreaming Rosan Roeslani, to the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon.
Airlangga said one of the matters to be reported to President Prabowo in the limited meeting was regarding the efficiency of ministries/agencies.
AHY Ensures Trans-Java Toll Road in Prime Condition, Supports Smooth Eid Traffic Flow
Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development (IPK) Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) ensured that the Trans-Java Toll Road is in prime condition to support the smooth flow of the 2026 Eid homecoming.
“We ensure that the Trans-Java Toll Road is in prime condition. We are also anticipating all forms of incidents, including weather that we monitor 24 hours a day, of course, in cooperation with BMKG (Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency), and the field officers,” he said while monitoring the homecoming flow from the Jasamarga Tollroad Command Center (JMTC) office in Jatiasih, Bekasi, West Java, on Thursday.
Ministry of Public Works Helps Penajam Build Bridge Connecting to IKN Area
The Ministry of Public Works (PU) is assisting Penajam Paser Utara Regency, East Kalimantan Province, in building the Riko River bridge infrastructure that connects to the Nusantara Capital (IKN) area, located in part of the regency, namely Sepaku Subdistrict.
“The Ministry of PU is willing to help fund the construction of the Riko River bridge,” said the Head of the Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Office of East Kalimantan Province, Aji Muhammad Fitra Firnanda, in Samarinda, on Thursday, when asked about the continuity of connecting infrastructure development to the IKN area in Penajam.
Government Prepares WFH Scheme to Mitigate Impact of Rising Oil Prices
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Airlangga Hartarto stated that the government is preparing a flexible work scheme in the form of work from home (WFH) as a response to the rise in oil prices.
“Regarding the study, that with high oil prices, efficiency in work time is needed, where flexibility for work from home will be opened,” said Airlangga in a press statement after a limited meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta, on Thursday afternoon.