Strengthening Care Economy to Boost Female Labour Force Participation, Ministry Says
Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) views strengthening the care economy as an important strategy to increase women’s participation in the workforce.
“The care economy issue becomes increasingly relevant when considering Indonesia’s employment conditions. Care work burdens remain unevenly distributed and are not yet fully recognised as part of the economic system. Consequently, strengthening the care economy is seen as an important strategy to increase women’s participation in the workforce,” said Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, Deputy for Gender Equality at KemenPPPA, in Jakarta on Monday.
“Based on 2025 data, women’s labour force participation rate stands at 56.91 per cent, whilst male participation reaches 84.83 per cent. One of the main factors affecting this situation is the lack of recognition of care work as part of the economic system,” Lestariningsih added.
This gap indicates persistent structural barriers that limit women from fully participating in economic activities.
The Indonesia Care Economy Roadmap 2025–2045, launched in 2024, represents an important milestone in building a fairer, more inclusive, and gender-responsive care economy system. The document serves not only as a cross-sector policy guide but also as a strategic instrument to drive transformation towards a more equitable workplace.
However, the Care Economy Roadmap must be revised to refine the direction of care economy policy to align with developments in national regulation and support more inclusive and gender-responsive development.
“Today’s coordination meeting is very important as an opportunity to discuss and refine the draft revision of the Care Economy Roadmap. Additionally, we will re-identify the roles and contributions of ministries and institutions within the Working Group, as well as inventory various programmes and activities that can support the National Care Economy Action Plan,” Lestariningsih said.