The world is looking at a major fuel crisis caused by the escalating conflict in West Asia involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally accounts for about 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) transit, and Israeli strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure caused prices to spike around the world.
With the US-Iran conflict now in its 12th day and no clear path to immediate de-escalation in sight, countries around the world are waking up to the reality of significant disruption to life as usual.
Working from home is back
Six years after COVID-19 forced the world to work from home, the fuel crisis is forcing many countries to bring it back.
Read also | US-Iran War: What’s at Risk if Strait of Hormuz Closes Amid West Asian Conflict?
Over the past few days, several countries have rolled back the work-from-home mandate and encouraged employees to work remotely to save fuel.
Thailand
On Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered civil servants to conserve energy, a government spokesman said. Other fuel-saving steps include suspending overseas trips and using stairs instead of elevators.
“The prime minister has ordered that from today civil servants will work from home,” spokeswoman Lalida Periswiwatana told reporters, adding that exemptions would be granted for civil servants who must serve the public.
Vietnam
On Tuesday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Commerce urged local businesses to encourage their employees to work from home as part of efforts to save fuel.
Businesses must “encourage working from home where possible to reduce the need for travel and transport,” the statement said.
Pakistan
Pakistan has mandated a four-day work week and WFH for half of public sector employees. While key sectors such as banking are exempted, the government has strongly recommended similar WFH measures for other private sectors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced these measures to reduce national fuel consumption and protect foreign exchange reserves.
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All schools and universities have been closed for at least two weeks as part of fuel-saving measures, and educational institutions have been ordered to switch to online courses.
As the conflict continues, more countries could embrace working from home to reduce fuel consumption.
Lack of LGP in India
While India has not yet faced a shortage of petrol and diesel due to the war, developments in the Strait of Hormuz have had an impact on the shipment of LNG to the country.
To resolve the situation, the Union government on Tuesday invoked the Basic Commodities Act (EC Act), which is supposed to stabilize the domestic energy market. The government has prioritized the supply of cooking gas to households while restricting the distribution of pressure cylinders to commercial establishments, including restaurants.
Read also | LPG shortage from conflict in West Asia may force IRCTC to suspend cooked meals
“There is absolutely no shortage of fuel,” Union Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday.
“Companies should allow WFH”
Chandrasekar Cuttackam, vice president of Wells Fargo, urged companies in India to allow employees to work from home whenever possible.
“Thousands of employees commute long distances every day and burn a lot of fuel,” he said in a LinkedIn post.
He noted that if commuting is reduced, the fuel saved can be redirected to more critical services such as health care, emergency response, logistics and public transportation.
According to Chandrasekar, enabling “work from home” isn’t exactly a business decision. It is an act of corporate social responsibility (CSR) that can make a real difference in times of crisis.
Key things
- The fuel crisis has forced countries to rethink telecommuting policies to save energy.
- Working from home arrangements can help redirect fuel resources to critical services.
- This shift underlines the importance of corporate social responsibility in times of crisis.
