VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): The Industry Ministry is taking several initiatives to consistently encourage women's empowerment and an increase in women's labor force participation which are deemed able to reduce social and economic inequalities in the society.

"Considering that around 54 percent of Indonesia's workers are women, it is essential for the industry sector, companies, and the Indonesian government to implement a progressive strategy in women's empowerment," Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said in a statement here, Saturday (February 18).

He underscored Indonesia's determination to support achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, including on promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. 

"Thus, increasing the number of women in the labor force is one of the essential strategies to achieve the SDG goal," he said.

Kartasasmita said his ministry identified several challenges in increasing women's labor force participation.

The first challenge is the lack of choices for available childcare facilities around workplaces and residential areas. Most of the available childcare services come at a high cost that is unaffordable to lower-middle-income families.

"This causes women to decide to leave the world of work, especially those who have small children," he said.

The second challenge is it is hard for Indonesian women to prioritize their jobs and give their all at work because most of them are also expected to play their role and responsibility as housewives.

"The third (challenge) is the lack of inclusive policies that are able to encourage more women workers to participate in the labor ecosystem," he said.

The Industry Ministry has cooperated with private parties and other government parties in various projects to improve women's opportunities for education, especially in the fields of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

"We have also held the Women Innovation Camp with an emphasis on the understanding of the Internet of Things (IoT)," he said.

He explained that, in 2021, the program consisted of three activities: a webinar on women and technology, a workshop on women and leadership through sports, and IoT training.

The minister expressed his optimism that those efforts can improve the education and skills of Indonesian women in meeting the demands of business and industries. (Antaranews)