Four-Day Workweek in Indonesia’s Big Cities: Urgency and Legal Framework for Flexible Work in Labour Law Reform
Article Sidebar
Issue
Vol. 21 No. 1 (2026)
Keywords:
-
four-day workweek, flexible work, working time, hybrid work, labour law
Abstract
This article offers normative input for Indonesia’s ongoing labour-law reform agenda by proposing a legal framework to govern a four-day workweek as part of broader flexible-work regulation. Indonesian working-time norms remain largely anchored in a 40-hour standard, while contemporary work arrangements, particularly hybrid (hibrida) and remote (jarak jauh) work, have heightened risks of working-time spillover, hidden overtime, and blurred boundaries between work and rest. Within this reform context, the study assesses the legal urgency and basis for regulating a four-day workweek and formulates a fair and safe implementation model through a proposal to establish a Flexible Work Chapter within a revised/new Labour Law and its implementing regulations. Using a normative-prescriptive legal method, the research applies statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches, supported by desk-based evidence from published evaluations of four-day workweek trials in the UK and Iceland and scholarship on the European right to disconnect. The findings indicate that a four-day workweek may be operationalized through two legal models, compressed workweeks (40 hours/4 days) and reduced-hour workweeks (32–36 hours/4 days), each carrying distinct legal implications and risks, particularly in sectors and urban contexts where working-time control is difficult. Accordingly, safeguards are required, including wage protection, clear overtime limits and approval, transparent working-time recording (including for hybrid/remote arrangements), strengthened Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and fatigue-risk management, and a right to disconnect framework. The article concludes that a Flexible Work Chapter is necessary to ensure flexibility remains consistent with worker-protection principles and legal certainty in working-time governance.
Full text article
Generated from XML file
References
Ateeq, K. (2022). Hybrid working method: An integrative review. In 2022 International Conference on Business Analytics for Technology and Security (ICBATS) (pp. 1–8). https://doi.org/10.1109/ICBATS54253.2022.9759041
Ardhany, Y., Fauzy, E., & Zubarita, F. R. (2023). Penerapan right to disconnect dan hak-hak pekerja di Indonesia. Lex Renaissance, 8(2), 326–345. https://doi.org/10.20885/JLR.vol8.iss2.art8
Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana. (2025). Data bencana Indonesia 2024. Pusdatinkom BNPB. https://bnpb.go.id/storage/app/media/Buletin%20Info%20Bencana/Buku%20Data%20Bencana%202024/20250613_Buku%20Data%202024.pdf
Bernstrøm, V., Alves, D. E., Houkes, I., Lillebråten, A., & Nilsen, W. (2025). The consequences of a compressed workweek: A systematic literature review. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 98(7), 587–607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02153-8
Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time. (2003, November 4). EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/88/oj/eng
European Commission. (n.d.). Working Time Directive. https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/rights-work/labour-law/working-conditions/working-time-directive_en
European Law Institute. (2023). Guiding principles on implementing workers’ right to disconnect. https://europeanlawinstitute.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/p_eli/Publications/Guiding_Principles_Workers_Right_to_Disconnect.pdf
Eurofound. (2022). The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/rise-telework-impact-working-conditions-and-regulations
Eurofound. (2023). Right to disconnect: Implementation and impact at company level. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/right-disconnect-implementation-and-impact-company-level
Fan, W., Schor, J. B., Kelly, O., & Gu, G. (2025). Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being. Nature Human Behaviour, 9, 2153–2168. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02259-6
Florisse, C., & Koster, F. (2024). Hybride werken en bevlogenheid van werknemers: Een analyse op basis van de zelfdeterminatietheorie. Mens & Maatschappij, 99(1), 4–32. https://doi.org/10.5117/MEM2024.1.002.FLOR
Griffiths, P., Dall’Ora, C., Simon, M., Ball, J., Lindqvist, R., Rafferty, A.-M., Schoonhoven, L., & Aiken, L. H. (2014). Nurses’ shift length and overtime working in 12 European countries: The association with perceived quality of care and patient safety. Medical Care, 52(11), 975–981. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000000233
Haraldsson, G. D., & Kellam, J. (2021). Going public: Iceland’s journey to a shorter working week. Autonomy & Alda. https://autonomy.work/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ICELAND_4DW.pdf
International Labour Office. (2021). Working from home: From invisibility to decent work. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/working-home-invisibility-decent-work
International Labour Office. (2023). Working time and work-life balance around the world. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/publications/working-time-and-work-life-balance-around-world
International Labour Organization. (2021, May 17). Long working hours can increase deaths from heart disease and stroke, say ILO and WHO. https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/long-working-hours-can-increase-deaths-heart-disease-and-stroke-say-ilo-and
Jahal, T. (2024). Could the 4-day week work? A scoping review. Journal of Nursing Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12395
Kusumaningrum, A., Yacub, R., Prihantoro, K., Priadi, M. D., & Herlina, H. (2025). Pengaruh fleksibilitas kerja terhadap keseimbangan hidup (work-life balance) Generasi Z. Indonesian Journal of Economic and Business (IJEB), 3(2), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.58818/ijeb.v3i2.155
Lewis, K., Stronge, W., Kellam, J., & Kikuchi, L. (2023). The results are in: The UK’s four-day week pilot. Autonomy. https://autonomy.work/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-results-are-in-The-UKs-four-day-week-pilot.pdf
Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia. (2021). Putusan Nomor 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 (Pengujian formil Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2020 tentang Cipta Kerja terhadap UUD 1945). https://www.mkri.id/public/content/persidangan/putusan/putusan_mkri_8240_1637822490.pdf
Mullens, F., & Laurijssen, I. (2024). An organizational working time reduction and its impact on three domains of mental well-being of employees: A panel study. BMC Public Health, 24, 1727. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19161-x
Nadia, S. (2025). Commuting stress among workers in Jabodetabek and its impact on health. Jurnal Psikologi Tabularasa, 20(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.26905/jpt.v20i1.15436
Nasution, F. A. P., Nuraeni, Y., & Nuzula, F. (2022). Penerapan peraturan pemerintah mengenai waktu kerja dan waktu istirahat: Perspektif jurnalis. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 17(2), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.47198/naker.v17i2.138
Nuriskia, C. S. (2022). Perlindungan hukum pekerja dalam penerapan sistem work from home (WFH). Jurnal Hukum Lex Generalis. https://journals.usm.ac.id/index.php/julr/article/download/5555/2815/16576
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Worker fatigue. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/worker-fatigue
Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 35 Tahun 2021 tentang Perjanjian Kerja Waktu Tertentu, Alih Daya, Waktu Kerja dan Waktu Istirahat, dan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja. (2021). https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Download/154582/PP%20Nomor%2035%20Tahun%202021.pdf
Rab, H. (2024). The four-day work week dilemmas behind labour law and the labour market. Hungarian Labour Law E-Journal, 2024(1), 70–81. https://hllj.hu/letolt/2024_1_a/05_Rab_hllj_2024_1.pdf
Ratti, L., & García-Muñoz, A. (2024). The regulation of remote work: Seeking balance through the articulation of labour law sources: A comparative appraisal. https://ruidera.uclm.es/bitstreams/a5247365-bfec-4bd5-b012-982005fa59b9/download
Republik Indonesia. (2023). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang penetapan Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 tentang Cipta Kerja menjadi Undang-Undang. JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan Republik Indonesia. https://jdih.kemnaker.go.id/asset/data_puu/2023UU06_Naker.pdf
Smuts, J., & Schoeman, R. (2025). Less is more: Organisational and employee outcomes of reduced working hours. South African Journal of Business Management, 56(1), Article a4997. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v56i1.4997
TomTom. (2025). Jakarta traffic in 2025 (TomTom Traffic Index). https://www.tomtom.com/traffic-index/city/jakarta
Travis, M. A. (2010). What a difference a day makes, or does it? Work/family balance and the four-day work week. Connecticut Law Review, 42(4). https://ssrn.com/abstract=1594403
World Health Organization. (2021, May 17). Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke: WHO, ILO. https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2021-long-working-hours-increasing-deaths-from-heart-disease-and-stroke-who-ilo
Ardhany, Y., Fauzy, E., & Zubarita, F. R. (2023). Penerapan right to disconnect dan hak-hak pekerja di Indonesia. Lex Renaissance, 8(2), 326–345. https://doi.org/10.20885/JLR.vol8.iss2.art8
Badan Nasional Penanggulangan Bencana. (2025). Data bencana Indonesia 2024. Pusdatinkom BNPB. https://bnpb.go.id/storage/app/media/Buletin%20Info%20Bencana/Buku%20Data%20Bencana%202024/20250613_Buku%20Data%202024.pdf
Bernstrøm, V., Alves, D. E., Houkes, I., Lillebråten, A., & Nilsen, W. (2025). The consequences of a compressed workweek: A systematic literature review. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 98(7), 587–607. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-025-02153-8
Directive 2003/88/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 November 2003 concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time. (2003, November 4). EUR-Lex. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2003/88/oj/eng
European Commission. (n.d.). Working Time Directive. https://employment-social-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies-and-activities/rights-work/labour-law/working-conditions/working-time-directive_en
European Law Institute. (2023). Guiding principles on implementing workers’ right to disconnect. https://europeanlawinstitute.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/p_eli/Publications/Guiding_Principles_Workers_Right_to_Disconnect.pdf
Eurofound. (2022). The rise in telework: Impact on working conditions and regulations. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/rise-telework-impact-working-conditions-and-regulations
Eurofound. (2023). Right to disconnect: Implementation and impact at company level. Publications Office of the European Union. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/publications/all/right-disconnect-implementation-and-impact-company-level
Fan, W., Schor, J. B., Kelly, O., & Gu, G. (2025). Work time reduction via a 4-day workweek finds improvements in workers’ well-being. Nature Human Behaviour, 9, 2153–2168. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-025-02259-6
Florisse, C., & Koster, F. (2024). Hybride werken en bevlogenheid van werknemers: Een analyse op basis van de zelfdeterminatietheorie. Mens & Maatschappij, 99(1), 4–32. https://doi.org/10.5117/MEM2024.1.002.FLOR
Griffiths, P., Dall’Ora, C., Simon, M., Ball, J., Lindqvist, R., Rafferty, A.-M., Schoonhoven, L., & Aiken, L. H. (2014). Nurses’ shift length and overtime working in 12 European countries: The association with perceived quality of care and patient safety. Medical Care, 52(11), 975–981. https://doi.org/10.1097/MLR.0000000000000233
Haraldsson, G. D., & Kellam, J. (2021). Going public: Iceland’s journey to a shorter working week. Autonomy & Alda. https://autonomy.work/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ICELAND_4DW.pdf
International Labour Office. (2021). Working from home: From invisibility to decent work. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/publications/major-publications/working-home-invisibility-decent-work
International Labour Office. (2023). Working time and work-life balance around the world. International Labour Organization. https://www.ilo.org/publications/working-time-and-work-life-balance-around-world
International Labour Organization. (2021, May 17). Long working hours can increase deaths from heart disease and stroke, say ILO and WHO. https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/long-working-hours-can-increase-deaths-heart-disease-and-stroke-say-ilo-and
Jahal, T. (2024). Could the 4-day week work? A scoping review. Journal of Nursing Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/1744-7941.12395
Kusumaningrum, A., Yacub, R., Prihantoro, K., Priadi, M. D., & Herlina, H. (2025). Pengaruh fleksibilitas kerja terhadap keseimbangan hidup (work-life balance) Generasi Z. Indonesian Journal of Economic and Business (IJEB), 3(2), 34–43. https://doi.org/10.58818/ijeb.v3i2.155
Lewis, K., Stronge, W., Kellam, J., & Kikuchi, L. (2023). The results are in: The UK’s four-day week pilot. Autonomy. https://autonomy.work/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/The-results-are-in-The-UKs-four-day-week-pilot.pdf
Mahkamah Konstitusi Republik Indonesia. (2021). Putusan Nomor 91/PUU-XVIII/2020 (Pengujian formil Undang-Undang Nomor 11 Tahun 2020 tentang Cipta Kerja terhadap UUD 1945). https://www.mkri.id/public/content/persidangan/putusan/putusan_mkri_8240_1637822490.pdf
Mullens, F., & Laurijssen, I. (2024). An organizational working time reduction and its impact on three domains of mental well-being of employees: A panel study. BMC Public Health, 24, 1727. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19161-x
Nadia, S. (2025). Commuting stress among workers in Jabodetabek and its impact on health. Jurnal Psikologi Tabularasa, 20(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.26905/jpt.v20i1.15436
Nasution, F. A. P., Nuraeni, Y., & Nuzula, F. (2022). Penerapan peraturan pemerintah mengenai waktu kerja dan waktu istirahat: Perspektif jurnalis. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 17(2), 105–120. https://doi.org/10.47198/naker.v17i2.138
Nuriskia, C. S. (2022). Perlindungan hukum pekerja dalam penerapan sistem work from home (WFH). Jurnal Hukum Lex Generalis. https://journals.usm.ac.id/index.php/julr/article/download/5555/2815/16576
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Worker fatigue. U.S. Department of Labor. https://www.osha.gov/worker-fatigue
Peraturan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia Nomor 35 Tahun 2021 tentang Perjanjian Kerja Waktu Tertentu, Alih Daya, Waktu Kerja dan Waktu Istirahat, dan Pemutusan Hubungan Kerja. (2021). https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Download/154582/PP%20Nomor%2035%20Tahun%202021.pdf
Rab, H. (2024). The four-day work week dilemmas behind labour law and the labour market. Hungarian Labour Law E-Journal, 2024(1), 70–81. https://hllj.hu/letolt/2024_1_a/05_Rab_hllj_2024_1.pdf
Ratti, L., & García-Muñoz, A. (2024). The regulation of remote work: Seeking balance through the articulation of labour law sources: A comparative appraisal. https://ruidera.uclm.es/bitstreams/a5247365-bfec-4bd5-b012-982005fa59b9/download
Republik Indonesia. (2023). Undang-Undang Republik Indonesia Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang penetapan Peraturan Pemerintah Pengganti Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 tentang Cipta Kerja menjadi Undang-Undang. JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan Republik Indonesia. https://jdih.kemnaker.go.id/asset/data_puu/2023UU06_Naker.pdf
Smuts, J., & Schoeman, R. (2025). Less is more: Organisational and employee outcomes of reduced working hours. South African Journal of Business Management, 56(1), Article a4997. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajbm.v56i1.4997
TomTom. (2025). Jakarta traffic in 2025 (TomTom Traffic Index). https://www.tomtom.com/traffic-index/city/jakarta
Travis, M. A. (2010). What a difference a day makes, or does it? Work/family balance and the four-day work week. Connecticut Law Review, 42(4). https://ssrn.com/abstract=1594403
World Health Organization. (2021, May 17). Long working hours increasing deaths from heart disease and stroke: WHO, ILO. https://www.who.int/news/item/17-05-2021-long-working-hours-increasing-deaths-from-heart-disease-and-stroke-who-ilo
Authors
Ks, S., Girsang, F. H. S., Widiyanti, K. and Santoso, S. S. (2026) “Four-Day Workweek in Indonesia’s Big Cities: Urgency and Legal Framework for Flexible Work in Labour Law Reform”, Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 21(1). doi: 10.47198/jnaker.v21i1.688.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Article Details
