Gender Equality Beyond Access in the Modern Workplace

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Women have a greater role to play in shaping the future of work amid rapid developments in digital technology, artificial intelligence (AI), the green economy, and demographic change. But to realize this potential, barriers to female participation in the workforce must be addressed.

Manpower Minister Yassierli stressed that gender equality is more than equal access. It requires ensuring women have opportunities to acquire skills, secure decent work, receive adequate protection, and pursue career development.

“Gender equality in the workplace is not just about providing equal opportunities, but ensuring women truly have access to skills, secure employment, adequate protection, and space to grow,” Minister Yassierli said in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday, June 11, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

He noted that gender inequality in the workplace is still shaped by cultural and social norms that assign specific roles to men and women. Stereotypes about suitable jobs remain an obstacle.

Women often face a double burden, taking on more unpaid domestic work and family care, while also confronting wage disparities, limited leadership opportunities, and workplace violence and harassment.

On the other hand, technological advances are creating new opportunities for women by offering more flexible work arrangements. However, without adequate digital skills and protection from online risks, these developments could widen the gap.

Minister Yassierli emphasized the importance of expanding women’s access to digital and financial literacy, science and technology education, vocational training, reskilling, and lifelong learning programs.

Women, he said, should not only be technology users but also innovators, developers, entrepreneurs, and economic drivers within their families and communities.

The government continues to strengthen protection for female workers through various regulations. Indonesia has ratified ILO Convention No. 100 on Equal Remuneration and ILO Convention No. 111 on Discrimination in Employment and Occupation.

It has also issued Ministerial Decree No. 88/2023 on guidelines for preventing and handling sexual violence in the workplace and is implementing Law No. 4/2024 on the welfare of mothers and children in the first thousand days of life.

Meanwhile, the Director General of Industrial Relations and Social Security at the Ministry of Manpower, Indah Anggoro Putri, underlined that gender equality must be reflected in everyday industrial relations practices.

“Women must have a safe, equal, and dignified workplace. This can only be achieved if the government, employers, and workers engage in effective social dialogue, so that gender equality policies can be implemented in daily work life,” Indah concluded. ***