Wednesday, 15 Apr 2026

The Feminization of Care Work in Indonesia: An Economic and Social Crisis

Indonesia is facing a looming economic and social crisis driven by the "feminization of care work." With 55% of the rapidly growing elderly population being women and female labor force participation heavily impacted by marriage and childbirth, the massive burden of unpaid care disproportionately falls on mothers and daughters. This unequal responsibility forces many women to exit the formal workforce and later return via the informal sector, leaving them vulnerable, underpaid, and without adequate pensions for their own old age. Read the full article to explore the systemic roots of this gender gap, the startling data behind the motherhood penalty, and the critical macro-level policy shifts, like revising the National Social Security System (SJSN) and investing in the care ecosystem, needed to protect women's financial futures.