Indonesian Manpower Ministry calls for flexible working for women

If plans by the Indonesia Manpower Ministry come to fruition, women in the country will soon enjoy more flexible working hours.

Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri recently noted that current stipulations – which call for workers who work for five days a week to complete at least eight hours a day and 40 hours a week – are too rigid, and discouraging women from entering or staying in the workforce.

“The rigid regulation is not beneficial for women as they have double pressures related to their tasks in nurturing their families and developing their careers,” he said.

As of August 2018, Statistics Indonesia data indicates that female participation in the workforce was 52%; considerably lower than the 83% for males.

A relaxation of the law would be beneficial for the workforce as whole, he noted, and would help the country better keep up with technology advances, and newer ways of working.