Oil-poor Asian countries push 4-day weeks and car pooling

Oil-poor Southeast Asian countries are adopting measures to reduce oil consumption amid fears of an oil supply shock due to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Countries like the Philippines and Thailand are implementing four-day workweeks and promoting working from home to conserve energy.Governments are increasing spending on fuel subsidies, while concerns rise over budget deficits caused by soaring oil prices, which recently peaked at around $119 per barrel.

The region's economies, heavily reliant on Middle Eastern oil, are already facing slowdowns. Some countries have started panic buying fuel, heightening supply concerns. Despite these challenges, experts believe the region is more resilient than during the 1997 financial crisis.