How informally working women reduce the social burden of care work – Academia

In Indonesia, 36.3 million other informal workers follow routines similar to Wati’s. Their significant but often overlooked contribution underscores the need to redistribute care work to increase women’s productivity.

Many Indonesian women see informal work as a win-win solution, as it allows them to contribute financially to the household while managing household responsibilities. A recent study on informal employment of women in the digital economy conducted by MicroSave Consulting (MSC) and the Women Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry found that about 66 percent of women working informally, especially those of childbearing age, choose informal work because of its flexible working hours.

But this flexibility often means working longer hours. Our study also found that 60 percent of women in informal employment spent more than 40 hours a week on paid work and more than 20 hours a week on care work. Despite the long hours, their incomes remain low and unstable, with most earning less than 3 million rupees ($185) a month.

They also lack social security in the form of benefits for personal injury and death at work because most of them are not registered with the national social insurance scheme, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan.

In an ideal world, women should not bear the costs of care alone. It should be a productive activity that reduces the burden of care for women and is redistributed to other family members, employers and government. Comprehensive and inclusive care policies should also be available to help women.

A study by the International Labor Organization (ILO) found that by 2035, Indonesia could create 10.4 million jobs, increase the female employment rate to 56.8 percent and reduce the gender pay gap to 10 percent if the government invested in universal childcare, long-term care and a comprehensive care package.

The first half of 2024 saw progress in improving the care economy in Indonesia. In March, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and the ILO launched a roadmap for the care economy. The document outlines seven priorities: childcare, care for the elderly, inclusive care, maternity leave, paternity leave, fair working conditions for care workers, and social protection related to care work.

The roadmap aims to provide direction for policy-making across ministries and agencies that is consistent with the Long-Term National Development Plan.

Another important milestone is the recent enactment of the Maternal and Child Welfare Act (KIA). The Act regulates the rights of mothers and children during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, family responsibilities, and the duties and powers of the government.

The law states that mothers are entitled to three months of paid maternity leave, with an additional three months available in special circumstances. Fathers are entitled to two days of paternity leave during childbirth, which can be extended by up to three additional days or by mutual agreement with the employer.

However, despite its positive intentions, the law can be significantly improved. For example, the statutory paternity leave is below the global average of nine days and the Asia-Pacific average of seven days. Furthermore, the paid maternity leave provision was designed solely for employees in the formal sector, where the employer pays for leave and leave is agreed in the employment contract.

This can put women working informally at a disadvantage. Informal workers, such as home workers, often lack legal contracts and formal employers. They typically receive assignments from different employers through an intermediary party without any physical contracts.

The government can implement several measures to address the disproportionate burden of care work on informal women. Here are some possible measures:

First, strengthen paternity leave policies. The government should introduce a meaningful paternity leave policy to encourage men to engage in childcare. In other developing countries, such as Myanmar and Uruguay, the government offers more than 10 days of paid paternity leave through social insurance. This approach helps ease pressure on female workers and supports a more balanced sharing of caregiving responsibilities.

A survey of public opinion on maternity and paternity leave in Indonesia shows that people want a month of paternity leave, suggesting strong support for such initiatives. Indonesia could implement similar policies to support a more balanced sharing of caregiving responsibilities and enable fathers to take an active role in raising children.

In addition, the government, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, should launch social campaigns to normalize men’s involvement in caregiving activities. The government can promote men’s participation in school events and caregiving for sick children, and create an encouraging office culture that includes carer’s leave. Such initiatives can challenge traditional gender roles and encourage a more equitable sharing of caregiving responsibilities.

Second, develop affordable public childcare. The study by MSC and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment also found that about 59 percent of women working informally did not have access to reliable and affordable childcare services. The government can develop several models of childcare services to meet the needs of different segments of the population.

One such model is community-based childcare, which can be an affordable alternative. It creates local employment opportunities and strengthens community trust and collective responsibility. This model can increase access for informal workers.

Indonesia has a National Day Care Standard. However, its implementation needs to be expanded and monitored across different types of day care facilities. Adhering to these standards will be key to maintaining quality and meeting the diverse needs of families. The government can also subsidize day care fees for informal workers, as their incomes are usually relatively low and unstable.

Third, prepare the infrastructure and policies for elderly care. In the future, we need to change our approach beyond child care. Indonesia’s demographic dividend will slow in 2030 as the aging population grows.

Given the country’s aging population, developing comprehensive care policies and infrastructure for older people is crucial. This aspect of care is often overlooked, but has become increasingly important, as seen in many other developed and developing countries.

The government should provide the necessary infrastructure and policies to support older people to ensure that the burden of elder care does not fall disproportionately on informal workers. Programs such as the Family Hope Program (PKH) at the national level and the Jakarta Kartu Lansia (Elderly Card) at the subnational level have already started to provide social assistance to older people. However, such efforts need to be further intensified.

Like Wati, countless Indonesian women make undervalued and unsupported contributions to the economy. Indonesia must redefine its economic landscape to acknowledge and address this gender inequality and seek paths to a more equitable, inclusive, and prosperous nation.

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They are Rhifa Ayudhia and Jilan Zahra Jauhara analyst and associate, respectively, at MicroSave Consulting (MSC). Raunak Kapoor, Rahul Ganguly, Vaishali Patra and Padma Angmo also contributed to the article.