Signs reading 'out of stock' at a gas station amid rising petrol prices in Manila, Philippines on March 9, 2026.
Jam Sta Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
The U.S.-Iran conflict is beginning to reshape how people work across Asia.
On March 10, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade urged employers to allow remote work where possible to reduce transportation needs and fuel consumption. Vietnam has one of the region’s smallest oil reserve buffers, with supplies estimated to last less than 20 days.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a four-day workweek for all government offices. He has also directed public and private organizations — except those in agriculture, industry, and essential services — to ensure that 50% of their employees work from home.
