Air Pollution in Jakarta: Governor Wants Civil Servants to Work from Home

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The air pollution (polusi udara) in Jakarta are choking millions of the city inhabitants while the government is still gasping for solutions. One of the proposed solutions is telling the civil servants to work from home again to reduce the pollution.

The residents of Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) are concerned as the IQAir app has been listing Jakarta as one the countries with the worst air quality in the world. Last week, Jakarta reached the top spot. South Tangerang city in the west of Jakarta also ranks among the worst.

Vehicles have often been blamed by the government as the cause of pollution, although President Joko Widodo surprisingly also mentioned the problem with coal. 

The Ministry of Environment said that vehicles contribute 44 percent of pollution in Jakarta. Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono said roughly half of the civil servants of Jakarta's provincial government will have to work from home, and the ministries are asked to apply similar policy.

"We just discussed WFH to reduce transportation which is used by the civil servants of DKI Jakarta. WFH is 50 percent - 50 percent or 40 percent, 60 percent, to reduce the activities of DKI's regional government. We also asked other ministries to perform WFH together," said Heru Budi Hartono after a meeting with President Joko Widodo at Freedom Palace on Monday (14/8/2023).

As the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, government offices already stopped the WFH policy. Some companies in the private sectors still have flexible hybrid works.

Heru also said that the province will strengthen the regulation for high rise buildings to apply the green building concept.

The Health Authority in Jakarta has advised people to wear masks in the open space as the risk of air pollution is ranging from asthma, hipertension, to heart problems.

President Joko Widodo has acknowledged the worsening air quality in Jakarta. Surprisingly, the president pointed out that coals are part of the problems, that besides the vehicle emissions, industrial activities in Jabodetabek also caused the pollution.

"Especially those that use coal in the manufacturing industry sector," said President Jokowi during a meeting at Freedom Palace, Jakarta, on Monday.

The president suggested that the government open more green spaces in Jakarta and prepare the budget for that purpose. Another idea is weather engineering to artificially create rains in Jabodetabek area. 

Regarding work from home, President Jokowi shows his preference for hybrid works that combine WFH and WFO (work from office). 

Furthermore, Jokowi is relying on mass transportation systems to reduce air pollution. The Light Rail Transit (LRT) in Jakarta will soon be operated alongside the popular Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), and the president also reiterated the government's support for electric vehicles.

"I suppose this month LRT is to be operated immediately. MRT also already operated, and then the high-speed train next month will operate as well, and also the acceleration of public transport electrification with the help of assistance," said Jokowi.

Update: The article has added more explanation of Governor Heru's recommendation for civil servants in Jakarta's provincial government to work from home, and that he asks the ministries in Jakarta to apply the same policy. Most staff in government offices are classified as civil servants. Previously, it was not clearly stated that the term civil servants can include both staff at the ministries and provincial/regional governments.

Winda Nelfira and Lizsa Egeham contributed to this report.