President Opens Options for WFH and Work Day Cuts to Save Fuel

JAKARTA - President Prabowo Subianto opened the option of massive austerity policies amid the threat of global turmoil that could put pressure on fuel and food prices. From the State Palace, Friday, March 13, Prabowo said the government needed to start considering steps such as working from home, reducing working days, to limiting fuel consumption so that pressure on the state budget would not increase.

During the cabinet meeting, Prabowo emphasized that developments in Europe and the Middle East had an immediate impact on Indonesia because they could trigger an increase in fuel prices, which then dragged down food prices. Therefore, the government is not enough to just feel safe.

"We also have to take proactive steps, in the sense that we have to save on fuel consumption," said Prabowo.

He then gave an example of Pakistan's steps which have entered the critical savings phase. In his presentation, Pakistan implemented work from home 50 percent for government and private offices, reduced the working days to four days, reduced the salaries of officials, limited official vehicles, stopped spending on air conditioning, vehicles, and furniture, and cut overseas travel.

Prabowo emphasized that this example was not a decision to be immediately implemented in Indonesia, but a comparison material that must be studied quickly by ministers. He said that steps such as working from home had been proven during the Covid-19 pandemic and resulted in large amounts of fuel savings.

"We must also consider reducing working days and other savings measures," said Prabowo.

The President said the government should not panic, but also should not be careless. The worst scenario in the Middle East, said the President, must still be calculated from now on.