Jakarta, The Indonesia Post – The Ministry of Industry (Kemenperin) carried out a number of initiatives to consistently promote women’s empowerment and increase the proportion of women in the workforce, which is believed to help reduce social and economic inequalities in society.
“Considering that around 54 percent of Indonesian workers are women, it is important for the industrial sector, companies and the Indonesian government to start implementing progressive strategies in empowering women,” said Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday.
The Minister of Industry stated that women’s empowerment is in line with Indonesia’s determination to push for the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including SDG Number 5 which calls for gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“So, efforts to increase the number of women in the workforce is an important strategy to achieve the SDG goals,” she said.
According to Agus, his party identified several challenges in efforts to increase the number of women in the workforce. First, there is a lack of child care options around workplaces and settlements.
Most of these options have high costs that are out of reach for the lower middle class families.
“This causes women to make decisions to leave the world of work, especially for those who have small children,” he said.
The second challenge is that it is difficult for Indonesian women to prioritize their work and give their all at work because. Because the majority of working women in Indonesia are also expected to carry out their roles and responsibilities as housewives.
“Third, the lack of inclusive policies that can encourage more women workers to participate in the labor ecosystem,” she said.
The Ministry of Industry has collaborated on various projects with the private sector and other government agencies to increase educational opportunities for women, particularly in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
“We have also held a Women Innovation Camp with an emphasis on understanding the Internet of Things (IoT). In 2021, the program will consist of three activities, including webinars on women and technology, workshops on women and leadership through sports, and training sessions on IoT,” he said.
The Minister of Industry is optimistic that these efforts can create better and more advanced education and skills for Indonesian women so that they can meet business and industrial demands.
Referring to the McKinsey Global Institute Report (2015), women’s participation in the workforce through the implementation of a gender equality system will be one of the determining factors that will increase GDP by 135 million US dollars in 2025. (mhn/bbs)
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