Deputy Minister of Hajj Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the share exceeded the ministry's initial target of 30 percent.
"We want affirmative action for women because most of our hajj pilgrims are women," Simanjuntak said after leading a preparation routine with training participants at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory on Saturday.
He said the higher proportion of female officers reflects the demographic profile of Indonesian pilgrims, the majority of whom are women.
Female officers are needed to provide more humane, comfortable, and sharia-compliant services, especially for private matters and worship-related consultations, Simanjuntak said.
He cited past complaints in which female pilgrims felt uncomfortable consulting male officers on issues related to worship or women's health.
"With a proportional number of female officers, a more personal and effective approach can be applied," he said.
Simanjuntak added that all officers are trained to serve pilgrims with empathy, particularly the elderly, whom they are taught to treat as their own parents.
The ministry will continue to evaluate the ratio of female officers to ensure it remains proportional to the gender composition of pilgrims, he said.
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Translator: CItro, Kenzu
Editor: Anton Santoso
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