WFH, Shorter Workweek Among Measures To Prevent Fuel Crisis In Asia

By Rohani Mohd Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 (Bernama) -- As most countries evacuate their citizens from West Asia following the attack by the United States and Israel on Iran beginning Feb 28, several Asian countries announced strategies to manage the consequences of such development. 

The approach was largely taken by countries heavily dependent on crude oil from West Asia, amid escalating tensions in the region that have caused sharp volatility in the global energy market and affected fuel supplies.

On March 6,  Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos ordered the implementation of a four-day workweek in certain executive branch offices as part of government measures to conserve energy and mitigate the impact of the conflict in West Asia.

In a video message, Marcos said that the temporary arrangement would take effect on March 9 and apply to selected executive branch offices, according to a media report. 

The order, however, will not cover agencies that provide emergency or essential services, including police, firefighters, and frontline public service offices.

Marcos also directed all government agencies to conserve energy and reduce their electricity consumption and fuel expenses by 10 to 20 per cent.

On March 9, the media reported that Bangladesh had announced it would close all universities, bringing forward the Eid al-Fitr holidays as part of emergency measures to conserve electricity and fuel amid a worsening energy crisis linked to ‌the conflict in West Asia.

Authorities said the decision applies to all public and private universities across the country,+a-zs, a move that officials said will not only ​reduce electricity consumption but also ease traffic congestion, which leads ​to fuel wastage.

A journalist in Dhaka, Tanzil Rahaman, when contacted on the matter, said there is an energy crisis due to the ongoing war in West Asia. 

Asked if work-from-home (WFH) may be enforced in the country, he said there is no such arrangement so far. 

“Everyone is now working in the office,” he said. 

In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 9 announced several austerity and fuel-saving measures to deal with the fuel crisis triggered by the ongoing conflict in West Asia, reported Xinhua.

The Prime Minister, while addressing the nation, said that under the new measures, fuel allocations for government department vehicles will be cut by 50 per cent over the next two months, and 60 per cent of these vehicles will be taken out of service.

In addition, he said 50 per cent of staff in both public and private sectors would WFH, except in essential services, emphasising that government offices would operate four days a week.

He also announced that all schools in the country would be closed for two weeks starting at the end of the current week as part of the energy conservation measures.

On March 10, Bernama reported that Thailand’s caretaker Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed government agencies and state enterprises to immediately implement WFH arrangements to reduce energy consumption amid prolonged geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

Deputy Thai Government Spokesperson Lalida Prertwiwatthana said the directive applies to departments where WFH would not affect public services, as part of broader measures to improve the efficiency of public sector resource management.

She said that the prime minister has also ordered agencies to suspend overseas study visits and training programmes, and conduct such activities domestically instead.

“All agencies have been instructed to implement these measures while ensuring that public services remain unaffected,” Lalida said in a statement following the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

She added that authorities would closely monitor developments in the global economic and energy situation to ensure that policies can be adjusted appropriately and in a timely manner.

Thailand relies heavily on crude oil imports, particularly from West Asia.

Vietnam is also taking a similar approach.

On March 10, the Ministry of Industry and Trade encouraged remote work where possible to reduce travel demand and transportation needs.

The ministry called on citizens to adopt fuel-saving measures, including limiting the use of private vehicles when unnecessary, carpooling, using public transport, and prioritising bicycles for short distances.

Citizens of Vietnam were also encouraged to consider electric and hybrid vehicles. 

West Asia crises began on Feb 28 when the US and Israel attacked Iran, causing Iran to retaliate and attack US interests in the region. 

Iran has now also made tankers using the Strait of Hormuz, the key passageway for global energy, to obtain approval from the country and has vowed not to allow tankers from the US and its allies. 

-- BERNAMA