Meanwhile, the Onward Kartini program, named after Indonesian women’s emancipation activist R.A. Kartini, aims to fully support women’s choices in all fields of work and professions, and to encourage women to access entrepreneurship, technology, education, and health.
Their vision and mission document states that their program plans to strengthen home industries and facilitate digital access for women, increase funding for women’s productive economic activities, and reduce the wage gap.
This discourse is inseparable from unequal pay between women and men. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded that the gender wage gap in Indonesia in 2022 stood at 22.09 percent.
The average wage for male workers is higher than that for female workers. Specifically, the average wage for male workers is Rp3.33 million (around US$214.85), while for female workers, it is only Rp2.59 million (around US$167.11).
The Pranowo-Mahfud pair also plans to extend childbirth leave for both mothers and fathers with full wages and benefits, and to increase the quality and quantity of childcare services in both the formal and informal sectors, so that parents can work without worries.
While they are committed to ensuring equality for women and men in childcare roles in the family, they still describe mothers as guardians of family health and the ongoing growth and development of children and family welfare.
Pranowo and Mahfud stated in the document that they plan to implement the Protect Friends program to raise awareness of the importance of supporting victims of violence and to provide budget support for anti-sexual violence and bullying task forces in all institutions.
They also emphasized that they will revitalize assistance for victims of violence, including sexual and domestic violence.
Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka
The Onward Indonesia coalition’s presidential and vice presidential pair includes the issues of gender equality and women’s empowerment in their Asta Cita mission number 4.
Translator: Narda Margaretha, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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