Jakarta. The government has decided to implement a combination of in-office duty (work from office/WFO) and remote work (work from home/WFH) for civil servants on April 16-17. This measure aims to smooth the Eid exodus return flow.

State Apparatus Empowerment and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Abdullah Azwar Anas said that the arrangement of WFH and WFO is strictly enforced while prioritizing organizational performance and public service quality. Following President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's directive, Anas said that government agencies directly involved in public services would not implement WFH, but remain 100 percent WFO.

"For government agencies related to administrative governance and leadership support services, WFH can be implemented by up to 50 percent of the total employees. The technical aspects are regulated by each government agency," said Anas in his official statement on Saturday.

Anas exemplified that agencies directly involved with the public would remain 100 percent WFO, such as healthcare, disaster management, security and public order, energy, postal services, logistics, transportation, distribution, national strategic projects, national vital objects, construction, and basic utilities.

Furthermore, Anas added that agencies involved in government services and leadership support could implement WFH, including secretariat divisions, policy formulation, protocol, research, analysis, and others.

Previously, the government had designated 6 days of collective leave for Eid al-Fitr 2024. Coupled with the 4-day weekend, this totaled 10 days. 

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said the work-from-home policy needed to be implemented to prevent traffic congestion during the Eid exodus return flow.

"We already have too many holidays, Indonesia will not be productive because of it," said Budi after inspecting the Eid exodus return flow at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, Banten, on Friday.

The peak of the Eid exodus return flow in 2024 is predicted to occur on Sunday and Monday. Budi urged people who had returned to their hometowns to come back to Jakarta earlier before the peak of the Eid exodus return flow.