Thailand Mandates Work-From-Home to Save Fuel

The Thai government is mandating work-from-home arrangements for many government agencies, effective immediately. This is part of a set of emergency measures intended to reduce the country's energy consumption amid heightened supply risks. The mandate applies to government workers whose roles aren't directly related to public services. The cabinet also urged government officials to suspend non-essential overseas travel, allowing only essential international meetings. Thailand relies heavily on imported crude, particularly from the Middle East, and consumes about 124 million litres of refined oil per day. As of March 5, the country held roughly eight billion litres in oil reserves, enough to cover about two months of demand without new supplies. Other energy-reduction measures being considered include setting air-conditioning temperatures at 26 to 27 degrees Celsius and encouraging people to wear short-sleeved attire. The government is also seeking voluntary cooperation from the private sector and has launched public relations campaigns to promote energy conservation. If the situation worsens, the government may consider measures such as dimming billboards and closing some petrol stations early. The current energy crisis is partly attributed to the ongoing U.S.-Israel war with Iran, which has disrupted global oil supplies. This conflict has triggered the largest global oil supply disruption in history. Vietnam has taken similar measures, encouraging businesses to adopt work-from-home arrangements.