National Guidelines in Indonesia - Ministry of Manpower

Minister of Manpower Circular No. 04 of 1988 (04/MEN/88) on the Implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women Workers

This Circular was addressed to Heads of Provincial Offices of Department of Manpower and Heads of Department of Manpower Offices throughout Indonesia in 1988. It requires company regulations and collective agreements to include equal pension age limits and equal medical benefit costs for male and female workers.

In addition, Manpower Offices and Departments, when giving guidance during the formulation process of a collective agreement or company regulation, should ensure that they do not include any forms of discrimination against women workers, in accordance with the spirit of Act No. 7 of 1984 concerning the Ratification of the United Nation Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination against Women.

Circular of Minister of Manpower No. Se.04/m/bw/1996 Concerning Prohibition of Discrimination Against Women Workers in Company Regulations or Collective Labour Agreements

This Circular was addressed to Heads of Provincial Offices of Department of Manpower and Heads of Department of Manpower Offices throughout Indonesia in 1996. It clarifies potential areas of discrimination in various company regulations and collective labour agreements. In addition, Manpower Offices and Departments, when giving guidance on collective agreements and company regulations, should ensure that they do not include any forms of discrimination against women workers. Examples given are the existence of provision that prohibits women workers from marrying and providing family benefits only for male workers.

Strategic Planning of the Department of Manpower and Transmigration Year 2001-2004

The Strategic Plan has a number of points covering women workers, including:

1. A program for Manpower Institution Protection and Development designed to, inter alia, increase the welfare of employees and their family. Activities include developing labour law enforcement, including job security, to prevent discrimination in practice against women and to make sure that women get their rights, either direct economic rights such as proper wages for proper livelihoods and career paths or indirect economic rights such as menstruation and labour leave. Another activity is to follow up ratified International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions.
2. The Law and Regulation Making program has as one of its main activities to ratify international conventions which are particularly related to women and labour rights protection.

Instruction of the Minister of Manpower No. Ins.02/Men/1991 Concerning the Concretion of the Improvement of Mother-Milk Usage

This instruction was issued in 1991, and considers that all babies are entitled to have mother's milk, and that breastfeeding could contributed to increased health of offspring. It instructs the Heads of Provincial Offices of the Department of Manpower throughout Indonesia to: prepare the concretion of the improvement of mother-milk usage among women workers; coordinate these concretions with the Department of Health; and employ the Regional Tripartite Body to speed the concretion of the improvement of mother-milk usage at the company level.

Instruction of the Minister of Manpower No. Ins.02/MEN/1999 concerning the Inspection of Implementation of Indonesian Workers' Working Placement in Abroad

This instruction deals with the protection of Indonesian workers who are working abroad. It instructs the Heads of Provincial Offices of Manpower throughout Indonesia to make efforts to increase protection of Indonesian workers abroad by making labour inspections. These labour inspections should include selection and training of future migrant workers, working agreements, departure and repatriation of migrant workers at airports, and supervision of migrant worker agencies.

Joint Decision of Directorate General of Industrial Relation and Labour Inspectorate, Department of Manpower, Republic of Indonesia and Directorate General of Community Health, Department of Health, Republic of Indonesia No. Kep.22/bw/1996 and No. 202/bm/dj/bgm/ii/1996 Concerning the Prevention of Anaemia (Zinc Deficiency) for Women Workers

This was a joint decision of the Directorate General of the Industrial Relations and Labour Inspectorate, Department of Manpower, and Directorate General of Community Health, and was passed in 1996 because of the prevalence of anaemia among women workers that was affecting work productivity. The decision asks employers to actively help prevent anaemia in women workers based on attached guidelines, and by conducting routine medical check-ups.

Circular of Directorate General of Industrial Relations and Labour Inspectorate No.SE.08/m/bw/1999 Concerning Wages Payment for Women Workers Who Are on Maternity and Confinement Leave

This Circular was addressed to Heads of Provincial Offices of Department of Manpower and Heads of Department of Manpower Offices throughout Indonesia in 1999. It states that a women worker who is on maternity or confinement leave will be paid wages irregardless of the number of children she has previously had.