TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has issued a circular letter addressing budget efficiency for 2025 and the effectiveness of its operations. Signed by Secretary General Kamaruddin Amin, the letter instructs Kemenag employees to work from home (WFH) every Friday.

“To provide services through work from home every Friday and facilitate activities outside the office,” the letter, signed on March 7, 2025, states.

Kamaruddin explained that this policy follows Presidential Instruction No. 1 of 2025 and aims to ensure Kemenag’s tasks and functions are carried out in an orderly, accountable, and efficient manner.

“This circular serves as a guideline for work unit heads in implementing Kemenag’s 2025 budget efficiency policy,” Kamaruddin said in an official statement on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

With the issuance of the Circular Letter Number 12 of 2025, Kamaruddin hopes that all work units within the Ministry of Religious Affairs can carry out budget efficiency optimally

"We also hope that the heads of work units will continue to monitor and periodically evaluate the implementation of this budget efficiency, at least once every three months," Kamaruddin added.

Furthermore, the letter requests officials residing in official residences to make savings in electricity and water usage. For official travel, the Minister of Religious Affairs and the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs must use economy class flights for trips less than two hours.

"Overseas official trips are prioritized for the needs of hajj organization, continuing education abroad, and activities funded by the invitee or sponsor," the letter reads.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has undergone a budget cut of Rp12,319,556,767 or Rp12.3 trillion following the budget efficiency reconstruction carried out by the government. This reduction leaves the Ministry of Religious Affairs' budget for 2025 at Rp66.2 trillion from the initial state budget ceiling of Rp78.5 trillion.

"So it's more than Rp12 trillion. Perhaps one of the biggest cuts for a ministry," stated Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar at a meeting with the House of Representatives Commission VIII at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, on Thursday, February 13, 2025.

Hammam Izuddin contributed to the writing of this article.

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