Asia just made 4-day workweeks!

Asia just made 4-day workweeks and work-from-home mandatory. Major Asian economies are pivoting to extreme energy-saving measures as a closed Strait of Hormuz threatens their core oil supplies. With Japan and South Korea sourcing up to 90% of their oil from the Middle East, the crisis has prompted governments to act decisively. The Philippines is pushing for a mandatory four-day work week, while Thailand has ordered civil servants to work from home and take the stairs instead of elevators. In South Asia, Pakistan and Bangladesh have closed schools or moved holidays forward to preserve dwindling fuel reserves, reflecting a region-wide scramble to lower domestic consumption. Beyond lifestyle restrictions, governments are intervening directly in markets to prevent economic collapse. South Korea has introduced petroleum price caps, and Indonesia has allocated over $22 billion in subsidies to keep fuel affordable. Despite the International Energy Agency’s release of 400 million barrels from emergency reserves, analysts warn that prices could soar to $200 per barrel if maritime traffic remains blocked. As national industries face mounting pressure and India suspends gas shipments to commercial operators, the region remains on high alert for a prolonged energy crunch that could redefine Asian labor and economic policy. source: Ang, A. (2026, March 11). Asia rolls out four-day weeks and work-from-home as emergency measures to solve a fuel crisis caused by Iran war. Business News Report.