Jokowi Asks Corporates Do Not Mind about Six Months of Maternity Leave

Jakarta – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hopes that employers will not object to the maximum 6-month maternity leave regulation for female workers.

Earlier, the head of state had issued a policy for 6 months of maternity leave, which is stipulated in Law Number 4 of 2024 concerning the Welfare of Mothers and Children During the First Thousand Days of Life. This was enacted to protect women.

President Jokowi asked that employers not consider this regulation when deciding whether to hire female employees in the future.

“We hope that employers will not reject this. For any reason, we must respect women, pregnant mothers, and hope that the babies born are healthy,” said President Jokowi at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase on Monday *July 8).

He further explained that this law is intended to allow pregnant mothers to prepare for childbirth properly.

“So, if maternity leave is given, I think it is to prepare for childbirth and take care of the baby. I think this regulation is very humane,”

In the legislation signed by President Jokowi on July 2, 2024, the government allows up to 6 months of maternity leave for mothers.

The regulation on maternity leave for up to 6 months is stated in Article 4 Paragraph (3) letter a, which reads maternity leave is a minimum of 3 months initially; and a maximum of 3 additional months if there are special conditions proven by a doctor's certificate.

"Maternity leave as referred to in Paragraph (3) letter a must be given by the employer,"

Meanwhile, mothers who miscarry are also given 1.5 months of rest or as per a certificate from a doctor, obstetrician, or midwife, as regulated in Article 4 Paragraph (3) letter b.

Special conditions referred to in Article 4 Paragraph (3) letter a number 2 include mothers experiencing health problems, health disorders, and/or postpartum complications or miscarriages, and/or babies born with health problems, health disorders, and/or complications. This is regulated in Article 4 Paragraph (5).

Furthermore, the government stipulates that mothers who are on maternity leave cannot be dismissed by their employers as stipulated in Article 5 Paragraph (1).

"Every mother who exercises her rights as referred to in Article 4 Paragraph (3) letters a and b cannot be dismissed from her job and continues to receive her rights in accordance with the provisions of labor regulations,"