Indonesian ministry launches four-day work week policy

JAKARTA, INDONESIA — An Indonesian ministry has officially initiated a four-day work week following a successful six-month pilot. 

Dubbed the “Compressed Work Schedule,” this initiative allows eligible employees to compress their 40-hour work week into four days, with the option to utilize this arrangement up to twice per month.

Deputy Minister Tedi Bharata explained, “If someone is working for 40 hours in a week, they can opt for the four-day work week within the same week. It’s available for those who want it, but it requires approval.” This program is currently exclusive to the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises but may expand to include firms under the ministry’s control.

Balancing work and well-being 

The program’s origins trace back to concerns over employee mental health, with ministry head Erick Thohir noting that 70% of the younger generation suffers from mental health issues. 

“We push the scheme not to make employees indolent. It also does not mean that every Friday is an off day. Only employees who have worked for more than 40 hours in the week can register (for the extra day off),” Thohir clarified.

Feedback from the pilot was positive, showing strong staff support for improved work-life balance. However, it remains uncertain if this program will be adopted across other Indonesian ministries.

A growing global trend 

The concept of a four-day workweek is gaining traction globally. Belgium was the pioneer in the European Union, starting in March 2022, allowing employees to opt for longer daily hours with a three-day weekend. 

Similarly, several Japanese cities have experimented with this model to combat overwork-related deaths, which average 54 annually. The Miyagi prefecture plans to offer a four-day workweek to all employees by 2026 to support work-life balance and employee retention.

In the United Kingdom, some companies have already implemented a four-day workweek, following a successful 2022 pilot where 92% of participating companies chose to continue with the program. The 4 Day Week Campaign, which organized the trial, aims to make this work arrangement standard in Britain by the end of the decade.

Meanwhile, an American survey revealed that 64% of workers cited a condensed four-day schedule as their top desired workplace perk.