Indonesian Women March for Rights and Protections on International Women’s Day

Hundreds of women from across Indonesia took to the streets of central Jakarta on 8 March to mark the 50th International Women’s Day, demanding stronger legal protections, gender equality, and improved labour rights. Organised by the Indonesian Women’s Alliance (API), the protest highlighted systemic challenges faced by women in various sectors, from domestic work to garment factories and even the gig economy, as they called for long-overdue legislative reforms.

More than 200 protesters, representing 30 organisations under the API banner, gathered in front of the iconic Arjuna Wijaya Monument. Their placards and chants echoed a unified plea for the government to address discrimination, exploitation, and violence against women in the workplace. At the heart of their demands was the ratification of the domestic worker protection bill, a piece of legislation that has languished in the House of Representatives for over two decades.

“The government opposes the bill because they wear the face of employers. They consider us unimportant,” said Wina Ningsih Kuswadi, a 42-year-old advocate with the Sapulidi Domestic Workers’ Union, affiliated with the National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers (Jala PRT). Having worked as a domestic helper for 30 years, Wina spoke passionately about the lack of job security and the exploitative conditions many endure, such as employers refusing to support workers injured or ill on the job.

A Struggle for Basic Protections

The domestic worker protection bill, if passed, would address critical issues such as job security, fair wages, and written contracts—protections that remain elusive for many in female-dominated sectors. Currently, the absence of formal agreements leaves workers vulnerable to unfair treatment, with wages often falling far below Jakarta’s minimum standard of Rp 5.3 million (approximately ~US$310) per month. According to activists at the protest, some domestic workers earn as little as Rp 500,000 (~US$35) monthly, while most hover around Rp 2 million (~US$140).

Anita Jelita, another member of Jala PRT, shared harrowing stories of exploitation. “One worker in my community had to work while carrying a catheter before surgery because she feared being fired if she took leave,” the 40-year-old recounted. She also described a case where a domestic worker, after eight years of service, was paid just Rp 1 million (£50) per month, with a temporary raise only when she had a child—a raise that was later rescinded.

An unnamed woman ventilated to reporters that Muslim women are the most oppressed women in the world. She cited examples in the West where women claim they are oppressed because they perceive that they are objectified by men, or don’t receive equal pay, but claimed that the real oppression occurred in familial settings where women were denied basic rights “that’s actual oppression” she said.

These anecdotes are backed by broader data. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) in 2024, women in Indonesia earn significantly less than their male counterparts, with an average monthly income of Rp 2.7 million compared to Rp 3.5 million for men. This gender pay gap, combined with a lack of legal safeguards, paints a stark picture of inequality that protesters sought to challenge.

Discrimination in Labour-Intensive Industries

Beyond domestic work, women in labour-intensive sectors like garment manufacturing face distinct but equally troubling forms of exploitation. Sri Rahmawati, a 46-year-old worker with 22 years of experience in a South Jakarta factory, described a workplace culture where women live in constant fear of losing their jobs over personal circumstances such as pregnancy. “In my factory, women are afraid of being found out if they are pregnant because the risk is losing their jobs,” she said.

Sri, a member of the Indonesia United Trade Unions Federation, explained that employers often cite expired contracts or the need for “workforce efficiency” to justify layoffs, only to hire replacements soon after. This practice allows companies to evade obligations like maternity leave or holiday bonuses. With women comprising 85% of the garment industry’s workforce, such discriminatory practices disproportionately affect them, often compounded by intimidation and harassment. “When workers fail to meet their targets, they are threatened with dismissal,” Sri noted, adding that some are even forced to pay “tip money” to employers to secure their positions.

The situation has been exacerbated by the 2020 Job Creation Law, which critics argue has deepened job insecurity by permitting short-term contracts with ambiguous limits. At Sri’s factory, contracts can last as little as two weeks, denying workers the benefits and stability of permanent employment despite meeting the necessary criteria.

Challenges in the Gig Economy

The struggles of women workers extend into less traditional sectors, such as the motorcycle taxi-hailing industry, where female drivers are a rarity in a male-dominated field. Reni Sondari, a 45-year-old driver who has navigated Jakarta’s chaotic traffic for seven years, joined the march to highlight the unique challenges faced by women in her line of work. Beyond the physical demands of the job, she faces gender discrimination from both passengers and fellow drivers.

“We have to fight ten times harder because we work surrounded by men,” Reni said. While previous protests by motorcycle taxi drivers have focused on holiday benefits, female drivers like Reni continue to push for basic equality and protections. “All this time, we have been exploited without government protection,” she added, expressing frustration at what she perceives as the government’s wilful ignorance of their plight.

A Call for Systemic Change

The Jakarta protest on International Women’s Day was more than a demonstration; it was a powerful reminder of the intersecting challenges of gender, labour, and economic inequality in Indonesia. Activists and workers alike framed their demands as a fight for dignity, not just for themselves but for future generations of women. The stalled domestic worker protection bill, in particular, has become a symbol of the broader struggle for recognition and respect in a society where women’s contributions are often undervalued.

Analysts suggest that the government’s reluctance to pass protective legislation may stem from a complex web of economic interests and political priorities. Employers, particularly in industries reliant on cheap labour, often wield significant influence over policy decisions. If confirmed, this dynamic could perpetuate a cycle of exploitation, leaving millions of women without the safeguards they need to thrive. However, without concrete evidence of such motivations, these remain speculative concerns, and the government has yet to issue an official response to the latest protests.

The gender pay gap, workplace discrimination, and lack of job security are not unique to Indonesia, but the scale and persistence of these issues in the country have drawn increasing attention from international human rights organisations. The API and its allies hope that events like the International Women’s Day march will amplify their cause on a global stage, pressuring policymakers to act.

Looking Ahead

As the dust settles on the Jakarta march, the women who participated remain resolute. Their stories—of working through illness, enduring unfair wages, and facing dismissal for simply being women—underscore the urgent need for reform. Whether the government will heed their calls remains uncertain, but the momentum generated by the protest suggests that Indonesian women are far from giving up.

For now, the fight for equality continues, one march at a time. With each step, these women are not only challenging systemic barriers but also redefining what it means to demand justice in a society that has too often overlooked their voices. As Reni Sondari put it, the struggle may be ten times harder, but it is a battle worth fighting.