Following the success of a pilot initiative that started in June of last year, Indonesia’s Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises has now officially launched its four-day work year program to curious people.
The ministry’s employees who meet the 40-hour work routine have the option to work four times a week under the voluntary program known as the Pressed Work Schedule.
They can do it up to half a month.
” But, if someone is working for 40 hours in a year, they may opt for the four-day work month within the same week. It’s obtainable for those who want it, but it requires approval”, Tedi Bharata- who is the Deputy Minister for Human Resource Management, Technology, and Information- told CNN Indonesia next Friday ( Jan 24 ).
When the action was implemented, he said.
Employees will continue to adhere to the standard five-day work schedule if the 40-hour regular level is not met.
Now, the program is only appropriate to staff people at the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises and has not been extended to companies under the agency’s scope.
“( The initiative is ) still limited to the ministry”, Tedi said, referring to the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises that is being led by Erick Thohir.
Tedi added that the effectiveness of the four-day work week program is still being evaluated before it could be expanded to businesses under the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises ‘ control.
There are 47 state-owned businesses in the nation, according to the Jakarta Globe in November, but there are plans to reduce that number to really 30.
According to Thohir, the main objective of the four-day work week action was to lower staff ‘ stress levels while improving work-life stability, noting that 70 % of the younger generation nowadays faces mental health issues that affect their performance.
In an Instagram post, he wrote that” the Indian market will face many challenges in 2024 and 2025, but it is important to keep a balance between work and life.
His ministry conducted inside surveys, which revealed a strong desire for employees to have a better work-life balance.
It’s not clear whether the four-day work year program may be extended to various government ministries in Indonesia.
In the meantime, a part of the approaching Jakarta governor’s transition team has suggested introducing a four-day work month for employees in the country’s capital, a move that Tedi has supported.
” I think it is a great policy”, the deputy minister said.
Ima Mahdiah, the team’s leader for presidential transition, has since clarified that Nirwana Joga, an urban planning professional, was the subject of the team’s specific opinion of the four-day work month policy suggestion.
” We never discussed or proposed a four-day work week policy. This is Joga’s personal opinion as an expert, not as a transition team member”, Ima said.
Globally, more countries and firms have adopted a four-day work week in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Belgium became the first member of the European Union to adopt a law allowing a four-day workweek that became effective in March 2022.
Employees in Belgium have the option of working four or five days a week, with shorter workweeks required for those who choose to work longer.
In Asia, several cities in Japan have also begun to pilot a four-day work week initiative.
Similar policies have also been implemented by the Japanese government, but for employees with special responsibilities like looking after children or other members of the family. In April 2025, the plan will be put into effect in Japan for all employees.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, the four-day work week has primarily been adopted by startups, including Syariah-compliant fintech company Alami, e-commerce platform Bolt, and crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.