Indonesia considers flexible work for civil servants during Independence Day celebrations

Indonesian civil servants may experience more flexible work schedules on August 18, as the government considers arrangements to accommodate the 81st Independence Day celebrations. Deputy Home Affairs Minister Bima Arya explained that the flexibility is intended to allow citizens to participate in local festivities marking the national holiday.

"So, from the State Secretariat, it was conveyed that all regions are asked to provide convenience if residents want to hold folk parties. So the schedule is a bit flexible," Bima Arya stated at the Presidential Palace complex in Jakarta. He clarified that this flexibility does not equate to collective leave or a holiday, but rather an encouragement for government offices and other institutions to be accommodating.

For private sector employees, the flexibility is also an appeal rather than a mandate. "It's just an appeal. It means it's not mandatory, but company leaders and others, if they want to hold folk parties or 17th-anniversary events, can still do so tomorrow," Bima Arya added.

This initiative stems from a circular issued by the Minister of State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, on August 14, 2026. The circular encourages government agencies, public institutions, and private companies to offer work flexibility to their employees on August 18 to enliven the 81st anniversary of Indonesian Independence. However, the circular also emphasizes that such flexibility must be adjusted to the conditions, workload, and operational needs of each organization, ensuring that essential public services remain optimal.