Investing in Care Policies at Workplaces and Collaborative Models on Childcare Service in 3 districts in Indonesia
0-1 Original language
English
I-1 Name of the initiative
Investing in Care Policies at Workplaces and Collaborative Models on Childcare Service in 3 districts in Indonesia
I-2 Geographical coverage
IDN
I-2-A Region/country
Indonesia
I-2-R Region
Asia and the Pacific
I-2-T Geographical scope
Country
I-3-A Initiative start date
2025
I-4 Leading entity/organization
Employer and Business Membership Organization
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Government
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Private enterprise
I-5 Collaborating entities/organizations
Civil society, including NGOs
I-6 Has the ILO been involved in the initiative?
Yes
I-6-A Specify how the ILO was involved
ILO conducted a pre-assessment on existing local regulations and provides technical assistance.
I-7 Is there collaboration with other agencies of the United Nations System or other partners?
No
II-1 Justification of the initiative
The primary justification for this initiative is addressing the high absenteeism rate among female workers, largely due to childcare responsibilities and the lack of accessible childcare services. This practice is led by the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO). Inspired by the example in Probolinggo District, where an APINDO member established a childcare service fully funded by PT HM Sampoerna—a cigarette manufacturer with a predominantly female workforce—other APINDO members began seeking guidance on solutions to implement the Bill on Maternal and Child Welfare. They focused particularly on the first 1,000 days of a child's life, by proposing the establishment of childcare services. Also, in March 2024, a “Roadmap for the Care Economy 2025–2045” was launched in Indonesia, reflecting the Ministry of Manpower’s priority to ensure that workers with family responsibilities have access to childcare services, and which emphasized the importance of providing diverse and collaborative childcare models in partnership with companies. In this context, ILO provided technical assistance to APINDO in developing guidance for employers on investing in workplace care policies. In coordination with both APINDO and the Ministry of Manpower, three pilot districts were selected to rollout the guidelines.
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Manufacturing industries
II-10 Focus on other branches of economic activity
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Large enterprises
II-11 Focus on certain categories of enterprises or economic units according to their size
Multinational enterprises
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employees
II-12 Focus on specific status in employment
Employers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Childcare workers (for children ages 0-start of primary school)
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Personal care and/or assistance workers
II-13 Focus on other specific categories of workers and employers, not captured elsewhere
Workers in the informal economy
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Mothers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Fathers
II-14 Focus on specific groups of population / persons prioritized in the initiative
Persons with other care responsibilities
II-2 Objectives and description of the initiative
The pilot aims to implement the guidance by encouraging companies, particularly APINDO members that are unable to establish on-site childcare services, to adopt collaborative childcare models. It was designed by the ILO in collaboration with APINDO to promote investment in care policies and innovative childcare solutions.In coordination with APINDO and the Ministry of Manpower, three pilot districts were selected based on their industrial landscape and existing childcare services:Karawang is Indonesia’s largest industrial area, hosting 12 industrial zones and 1,762 manufacturing companies, with more than 20 childcare services available.Probolinggo has only two private childcare services and one new center recently established by APINDO.Batang currently lacks childcare services. However, the Governor of Central Java has initiated the development of a new childcare center (launched on May 1, 2025) to support companies in the emerging industrial area, which now comprises seven companies.Objectives:Promote the guidance of Investing Care Policies and Services at workplace through a collaborative model on childcare services for workers with family responsibilities. Provide companies technical assistance in developing care policies and services program at workplace for workers with family responsibilities.Implement the potential collaboration models between companies, local government and local stakeholders on childcare services. Document good practices of the implementation on investing the care policies and services program at workplace program and models on potential collaboration model between company, local government and local stakeholders.
II-3 Type of initiative
Workplace initiative
II-3 Type of initiative
Public-private partnership
II-3 Type of initiative
Training/capacity building
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Recognition, reduction and redistribution of unpaid care
II-4 Which of the Rs in the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work guides this initiative?
Reward care workers
II-5 Which is the main policy area of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-6 Which other policy areas of the 5R Framework for Decent Care Work does the practice focus on?
Care policies
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Addressing the unequal gender distribution of paid and unpaid work, and promoting women’s economic inclusion and autonomy beyond caregiving
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Invest in and make available high-quality, affordable, adequate and accessible care services, including childcare, health care and long-term care
II-7 Which policies or measures to advance decent work in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and SSE entities that deliver quality care services
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Unpaid carers (workers or persons with care responsibilities, parents, other family members, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Paid care workers (nurses, domestic workers, teachers, childcare workers, personal assistants, etc.)
II-8 Which beneficiaries in the care economy does the practice focus on?
Care recipients (children, older persons, persons with disabilities, etc.)
II-9 Geographical scope
Urban
III-1 In a short paragraph, summarize the main results and impacts obtained
Preliminary results have been achieved as the initiative is ongoing. APINDO has conducted capacity building activities for its facilitators in three districts—Probolinggo (East Java), Karawang (West Java), and Batang (Central Java)—to introduce the guidance and prepare for pilot implementation. Early progress includes the establishment of one childcare service by an APINDO member in Probolinggo (East Java), more than 20 childcare services in Karawang’s (West Java) industrial areas, and one childcare service established by the Governor in a new industrial area in where APINDO members located in Batang District (Central Java). Key results include:At least 60 APINDO member companies received orientation and conducted assessment on the potential of investing in care policies in three districts , using the questionnaire/assessment tools.Between 5-10 companies developed workplace care policies and service programs for workers with family responsibilities. At least 500 workers with family responsibilities participated in awareness sessions on care policies, with 120 workers gaining direct access to childcare services. A documented social media campaign showcased company good practices, especially on childcare access and its costing of investment as recommendation. A documented collaboration model between companies, local government and local stakeholders to enhance accessibility, affordability, quality and decent work for childcare workers. In addition, APINDO member gatherings explored collaborative childcare models and their costing and identified potential companies in each district. Follow-up at district level has provided one-on-one support to companies to raise awareness among management and HR, carry out needs assessments, and develop care policies. Companies are now working to define and select collaborative childcare models tailored to their needs and capacity, with early progress in the development of workplace care policies and practical collaborative models.
III-2 Explanation of the innovative element of the initiative for advancing decent work in the care economy
APINDO introduced a set of collaborative models for childcare services, allowing member companies to select the approach that best fits their needs and capacity. These models include:Subsidy approach, providing financial support to workers to access childcare services or to caregivers (including domestic workers) who take care of the children at home. Voucher approach, offering vouchers that workers can use to offset some of the costs to access childcare services. Capacity-building collaboration to support the training of childcare workers and expand access to social protection scheme (with funds channelled directly to childcare services). Collaboration between companies and childcare services to support the operational costs of childcare services.
IV-1 What were the main challenges or difficulties during the design and implementation? How were they faced/ addressed?
The absence of a comprehensive national care policy in Indonesia—particularly one addressing workers with family responsibilities at the workplace—posed a challenge during the design process. Selecting pilot areas required careful consideration to ensure that regulatory aspects would support implementation and minimize potential barriers.
IV-2 Lessons learned and good practices, including room and opportunities for improvement
The project built on earlier interventions (2023–2024), optimizing work in districts and among constituents already exposed to the concept of the care economy.Leveraging the institutional strength of APINDO, especially at local levels, has proven essential.Widening APINDO networks at local levels was key to promote childcare services. Carrying out assessments at company levels has allowed to develop comprehensive workplace care policies and the selection of a suitable and sustainable childcare collaborative model Increasing the capacity of APINDO facilitators at district levels has been critical. The program provided a capacity building session to strengthen understanding on the guidance and its implementation. APINDO subsequently worked with experts at local levels to support them in each district in promoting workplace-based childcare initiatives.
IV-3 Key conditions for success
Care Policies Awareness sessions and intensive coaching for companies who show their willingness in participating in the pilot initiative are key.The endorsement from local authorities and supportive local regulations haven been key: i) In Probolinggo, ILO’s awareness-raising activities in 2024 led the local Labour Office to issue a circular letter on childcare service provision by companies. Following this, an APINDO member established a new childcare service in December 2024; ii) in Batang, a new childcare service was initiated by the Governor of Central Java, who also issued a circular letter on childcare provision by companies.Capitalizing and expanding existing childcare services and infrastructure. The Karawang district was chosen because it hosts the largest industrial area in Indonesia and already has many childcare services in place.
IV-4 Key conditions for sustainability
A key condition for sustainability is the adoption of collaborative childcare models that are based on the results of a company assessment, and that are suitable to the company context and have been identified as the preferred solution.
IV-5 Potential for transferability, expansion and replicability in other countries and contexts
Transferability: The four collaborative models of childcare for companies will serve as the foundation for advocating with the government to shaping the Implementing Regulation of the Bill on Mother and Childcare Welfare for the first 1000 days of a child’s life. These models will help clarify and operationalize the clause on “Employers providing childcare services”, making it more concrete, practical, and adaptable for companies of different sizes across Indonesia. Replicability: The approach can be adopted by both APINDO and non-APINDO member companies and replicated in other districts.The Ministry of Manpower can expand the approach to support the implementation of workers’ welfare facilities at a national scale. Expansion: The approach also has the potential to be integrated into government policies, particularly to extend support and reach small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
V-1 Sources of information and documents used on the characteristics of the initiative, including links to websites, news items, toolkits, policy documents or reports
Indonesia launches its Road Map for Care Economy for a more Gender Equal World of WorkDaycare that feels like homeThe Care Economy in IndonesiaMinistry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and ILO launch Care Economy Working Group to advance Indonesia’s care system