INDONESIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Indonesia is a multiparty ...

INDONESIA 27
impact of this implementation varied across the province but, continuing the
pattern of the last few years, in general appeared to be less intrusive due to
improved government oversight of the Sharia police. The most visible impact on
women’s rights appeared to be the enforcement of dress codes. It was not
uncommon for Sharia police to briefly stop and lecture women whose dress did not
conform to local Sharia requirements on appropriate attire.
Local governments and groups in areas outside Aceh also undertook campaigns to
promote conformity by women with the precepts of Sharia. Local regulations in
some areas mandated the wearing of Islamic dress by government employees.
Vigilance in enforcing separation of sexes, fasting, and dress codes increased
during Ramadan. The Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for “harmonizing”
local regulations that are not in line with national legislation. During the year, the
ministry evaluated 9,000 local regulations and cancelled 351 deemed in conflict
with national law.
Women faced discrimination in the workplace, both in hiring and in gaining fair
compensation; however, there has been progress in that area. According to
International Labor Organization (ILO) reports, women’s hourly wages as a
percentage of men’s wages continued to increase. Women in administrative and
managerial jobs reportedly earned more than their male counterparts in 2008.
However, women were still underrepresented at the managerial level. According
to the government, women constituted 45 percent of all civil servants as of June
2009 but less than 9 percent of senior civil servants. Some activists said that in
manufacturing, employers relegated women to lower-paying, lower-level jobs.
Like their male counterparts, many female factory workers were hired as day
laborers instead of as full-time permanent employees, and companies were not
required to provide benefits, such as maternity leave, to day laborers. By law, if
both members of a couple worked for a government agency, the couple’s head-ofhousehold
allowance was given to the husband.
Jobs traditionally associated with women continued to be significantly undervalued
and unregulated. For example, domestic workers received little legal protection.
Under the labor law, domestic workers are not provided with a minimum wage,
health insurance, freedom of association, an eight-hour work day, a weekly day of
rest, vacation time, or safe work conditions. Consequently, as reported by NGOs,
abusive treatment and discriminatory behaviour continued to be rampant.
Children
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2011
United States Department of State • Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor