Workplace Gender Equality (WGE) and WGE reporting in Indonesia
Summary
This report explores the current landscape of WGE and the effectiveness of WGE reporting within Indonesian companies. The report highlights the weak regulatory framework in Indonesia, which ranks low on the World Bank’s Women, Business, and the Law (WBL) Index. Key issues identified include inadequate laws on sexual harassment and equal pay, and insufficient company policies on WGE. The report emphasizes the importance of comprehensive and transparent WGE reporting, which is currently lacking in Indonesian sustainability reports. The study compares Indonesia’s WGE efforts with those of the Philippines, Vietnam, and Myanmar, and showcases best practices from Australia and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Recommendations include integrating GRI standards into mandatory reporting, creating a comprehensive WGE reporting criteria, and establishing a WGE index in the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX).
Highlights
- Regulatory Improvement Needed: While Indonesia’s regulations on WGE are currently insufficient, there is significant potential for growth by strengthening laws on sexual harassment and equal pay.
- Opportunity for Enhanced Company Policies: Many companies have foundational WGE policies but can improve transparency and detail to further support gender equality initiatives.
- Comparative Advantage: Although Indonesia trails behind the Philippines and Vietnam in some areas of WGE, it is ahead of Myanmar, indicating room for impactful progress.
- Strategic Recommendations: By integrating GRI standards into mandatory reporting, creating comprehensive WGE reporting criteria, and establishing a WGE index in IDX, Indonesia can significantly advance its WGE efforts.
- Economic Benefits of WGE: Improved WGE practices can lead to better company performance and contribute positively to Indonesia’s economic growth.
