It is also important to distinguish context. WFH during the Covid-19 pandemic was not an economic choice but a public health necessity. Extending it into normal conditions requires a different justification.
Several countries — including Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, Egypt and Thailand — have introduced work-from-home (WFH) policies, particularly for public servants. Meanwhile, Pakistan, the Philippines and Sri Lanka have introduced a one-day shorter work week for public officials. In contrast, most advanced and highly productive economies — such as the US, China, Singapore, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan — have adopted measures other than WFH, despite facing similar or higher fuel costs (see table).
The difference is not exposure to rising costs, but how short-term savings are weighted against long-term institutional performance.
