Government Proposes Work from Anywhere for Year-End Holiday Period

Economic Stimulus Measure

The Indonesian government has announced plans to implement a work from anywhere (WFA) policy for the period of December 29-31, 2025, as part of efforts to stimulate economic activity during the Christmas and New Year (Nataru) holiday season ¹

. The proposal, first made by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, aims to boost mobility and consumption ⁴

Source 4

https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8268820/pengusaha-soal-wfa-29-31-desember-jangan-ganggu-jalannya-usaha

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Business Community Response

While the proposal has been generally welcomed, the business community has expressed cautious support. Shinta Kamdani, Chair of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo), stated that while they support WFA for government employees, its implementation in the private sector requires careful consideration ²

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Key Concerns

1. Operational limitations: Not all job types can be performed remotely, particularly in manufacturing and service sectors that require physical presence ²
   Source 2

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8267817/pengusaha-setuju-kalau-pegawai-swasta-wfa-29-31-desember
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   Source 4

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8268820/pengusaha-soal-wfa-29-31-desember-jangan-ganggu-jalannya-usaha
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2. Business disruption: Many companies have peak activities at year-end, making blanket WFA implementation potentially disruptive ²
   Source 2

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8267817/pengusaha-setuju-kalau-pegawai-swasta-wfa-29-31-desember
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3. Economic benefits: The policy could boost tourism and certain sectors while maintaining productivity in others ²
   Source 2

   https://finance.detik.com/berita-ekonomi-bisnis/d-8267817/pengusaha-setuju-kalau-pegawai-swasta-wfa-29-31-desember
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Implementation Guidelines

To address these concerns, the Ministry of Manpower is preparing a circular letter that will provide guidelines for implementing WFA in the private sector ⁴

. Key points to be covered include:

• WFA will be optional for companies to implement
• Must not be counted as annual leave
• Should be implemented considering specific business needs
• Aimed at boosting economic activity during the holiday period

Economic Context

The government's decision comes as Indonesia prepares for 25 days of holidays and joint leave in 2026, including 17 national holidays and 8 joint leave days ³

. This extensive holiday period is expected to have significant economic implications for various sectors, particularly tourism and retail.