Mutia Yuantisya, Jakarta – Jakarta streets remain congested even though the work-from-home (WFH) policy for the city's civil servants (ASN) has been in effect since August 21, 2023. Jakarta Acting Governor Heru Budi Hartono said the provincial government could not be blamed for the heavy traffic.
"Don't blame the regional government. I mean this is our problem together. There are only 25,000 civil servants in Jakarta, and 25 million people are moving (living and working) in Jakarta," Heru Budi said in Kalideres, West Jakarta, Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
He hoped that all sectors could take part in the implementation of the WFH without reducing economic growth. The private sector could regulate remote working policy as a form of support to reduce congestion and air pollution in the capital. "I hope everyone can contribute," he said.
Jakarta decided to enforce WFH at 50 percent for the city's civil servants from August 21 to October 21, 2023. The policy is aimed at improving air quality and reducing congestion during the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on September 5-7, 2023. The percentage would then be increased to 75 percent when the international event takes place.
However, the capital's roads remained congested on the first and second days of the WFH implementation. Tempo observed that Jalan Gatot Subroto was heavily jammed at 9 a.m. Monday, August 21. Traffic from Tomang was also dense.
Several people on the internet reported similar traffic jams on the second day of WFH on Tuesday, August 22. Based on posts on Instagram @jktinfo, congestion occurred in the Jalan Gatot Subroto area, Jalan T.B. Simatupang, Mampang Prapatan, Matraman, Tebet, and Cawang flyovers.
Heru Budi said the city administration would evaluate the implementation of the 50 percent WFH next Monday. Other than congestion, he would also look into issues that the policy had no impact on improving air quality. "We will evaluate it later," said the Head of the Presidential Secretariat.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1763190/heru-budi-on-congestion-despite-wfh-in-place-dont-blame-jakart