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View all search resultsJakartans weigh in on proposed four-day workweek: Solution or burden?
Governer-elect Pramono Agung suggested the plan could be implemented during the peak of the rainy and dry seasons, among other times, as a way to ease Jakarta’s notorious traffic and mitigate disruptions caused by extreme weather.
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Maintaining the flow: Police regulate vehicle traffic during flooding on the Sedyatmo Toll Road, Cengkareng, Jakarta, on Jan. 29, 2025. The toll road, which is the access to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, was flooded 20-30 centimeters high due to the high intensity of rain. (Antara Foto/Putra M. Akbar)
T
he Jakarta administration’s proposal to introduce a four-day workweek policy to ease the city’s traffic and pollution, as well as to improve work-life balance has sparked debate among workers, with some seeing potential benefits while others raise concerns over feasibility.
Governer-elect Pramono Agung and his deputy Rano Karno suggested the plan could be implemented during the peak of rainy and dry seasons, among other times, as a way to ease Jakarta’s notorious traffic and mitigate disruptions caused by extreme weather.
The plan, still in early discussions, is expected to focus on sectors where remote work is viable.
“We have yet to formalize the policy,” Pramono asserted last week, “But [as an alternative to the four-day workweek], we can also push for a work-from-anywhere policy,” he continued, noting that remote working would not really affect workers’ productivity.
Pramono asserted that the ultimate goal of the proposed plan was to improve the quality of life for Jakarta residents.
Nirwono Joga, an urban planning expert and member of Pramono’s transition team, said separately that the initiative aligns with global trends, particularly in Scandinavian countries that have adopted shorter workweeks to improve worker’s well-being.
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The response from the city’s workers, however, has been mixed.
Jane Sianturi, who works as a corporate real estate designer, said the proposal could create challenges in her industry. More specifically, she remarked that fewer office days could lead to operational inefficiencies, particularly in client-facing sectors.
“It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Some companies already operate with staggered schedules, so unless there’s a clear system in place, this could create more problems than it solves,” she said.
Jane also raised concerns about Jakarta’s already clogged roads. Shifting work patterns might not necessarily reduce congestion, she noted, as people could use the additional day off for travel or leisure.
A Jakarta-based IT consultant with over a decade of experience in corporate systems management said the plan seems redundant for many in his field.
“Most of us are already working remotely at least once a week, so shifting to a four-day office schedule won’t change much,” said the man who asked to remain anonymous. “I get the idea. The real issue here is whether companies will respect work-life balance or just cram five days’ worth of work into four.”
Unreliable internet at home could force employees to spend extra money upgrading their connections, he continued.
“Not everyone has the luxury of fast internet or a quiet workspace. Once I hear more details [of the policy], maybe I could believe in this being more of a benefit than a burden.”
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However, the administration has yet to clarify key details, including whether the extra day off would be mandated or whether it would come with extended daily working hours. Officials are also weighing whether to implement the policy seasonally or make it a permanent change.
Nirwono emphasized the need for thorough deliberation with the City Council to address these details.
This proposal is not Jakarta’s first attempt at flexible working arrangements.
During periods of severe pollution, the previous administration under acting governor Heru Budi Hartono implemented work-from-home policies for civil servants and temporarily closed schools to protect public health. The move was aimed at cutting down emissions from commuting and improving air quality.
As the transition team refines the four-day workweek proposal, Pramono has also outlined broader traffic reduction strategies, including extending public transport networks such as the mass rapid transit (MRT), light rail transit (LRT) and TransJakarta bus rapid transit (BRT).
He has acknowledged that without improvements in mobility, reducing office days alone may not ease Jakarta’s congestion.
Discussions on the proposal are set to continue, with policymakers expected to consult business leaders, labor representatives and urban planners before any formal implementation.
–The writer is an intern at The Jakarta Post
