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Asia rolls out four-day weeks and work-from-home as emergency measures to solve a fuel crisis caused by Iran war
Yahoo Finance· 2026-03-12 02:02
Core Insights - Asian governments are implementing extreme measures to manage a fuel shortage caused by high oil prices and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with countries like Japan and South Korea heavily reliant on oil imports from the Middle East [1] Group 1: Government Responses - Thailand has mandated civil servants to work from home, increased air-conditioning temperatures, and encouraged wearing short-sleeved shirts to conserve energy, with approximately 95 days of energy reserves remaining [2] - Vietnam is urging businesses to allow remote work to minimize travel, while the Philippines is advocating for a four-day work week and limiting travel to essential functions [3] - Bangladesh has moved the Eid-al-fitr holiday earlier to save fuel, and Pakistan has implemented a four-day work week for government offices and closed schools [3] - India has suspended liquefied petroleum gas shipments to commercial operators to prioritize household supplies, raising concerns among hotels and restaurants about potential closures [3] Group 2: Market Interventions - South Korea plans to introduce a price cap on petroleum products, with 1.7 million barrels of oil per day being withheld due to ongoing conflicts, which poses a significant economic burden [4] - Japan's industry minister has not ruled out using national oil reserves to ensure stable energy supplies [5] - Indonesia is allocating 381.3 trillion rupiah (approximately $22.6 billion) for energy subsidies to maintain affordable fuel and electricity prices [5] Group 3: Additional Measures - Thailand intends to freeze cooking gas prices until May and promote the use of alternative energy sources like biodiesel [6] - Vietnam is considering eliminating tariffs on fuel imports to alleviate the energy crisis [6]