November 20, 2025 | 09:09 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The International Labour Organization (ILO) has warned that rapid advances in artificial intelligence could deepen gender inequality in Indonesia’s workforce unless the technology is deployed with strict safeguards against discrimination.
Speaking at a policy dialogue on AI and workplace fairness in Jakarta on November 20, the ILO said bias in training data has already led to cases where automated recruitment tools favor male applicants over women, mirroring historical disparities in job applications.
Indonesia remains vulnerable to such risks. The 2025 National Labour Force Survey shows women’s labor force participation is still far below men’s, at 56.42 percent compared to 84.66 percent, raising concerns that algorithmic decision-making could reinforce existing gaps rather than close them.
The forum, the fifth in a series organized by the ILO, brought together government officials, industry leaders, labor groups, and legal experts to assess how AI is reshaping hiring, performance evaluations, and workplace governance.
Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture Pratikno, delivering the keynote address, said the government has formed a task force to develop human-centered AI policies.
“As AI becomes more embedded in recruitment, profiling, and promotion, we must ensure that it produces equitable outcomes,” he said.
“We appreciate the ILO’s platform for addressing these challenges and their wider implications.”
Presenting the ILO’s latest research, Senior Researcher Pawel Gmyrek said one in four workers globally are in jobs exposed to generative AI. Around 3.3 percent fall into the highest exposure category, with women disproportionately affected.
He also warned against AI misuse, such as intrusive monitoring, collecting sensitive worker data, screening internal communications, or enabling automated dismissals based on opaque metrics.
ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste Simrin Singh said the country’s response to AI will depend on cooperation across institutions. “The future of work in Indonesia hinges on collective action,” she said.
“Used responsibly, AI can reduce bias and support more transparent, inclusive HR systems.”
Business leaders and legal analysts, including Astra Group’s HR advisor Doni J.A. Saktiawan, SHL Indonesia President Director Marizca Tambunan, and Assegaf Hamzah & Partners partner Zacky Zainal Husein, outlined the opportunities and risks of integrating AI into recruitment and workforce development.
They highlighted the urgency of establishing clear governance rules to prevent discrimination and protect workers’ rights.
Labor representatives also voiced concerns over the readiness of Indonesian workers to face rapid digital transformation.
Kun Wardana Abyoto of the Association of All Indonesian Workers’ Unions and Yunus Triyonggo of the Indonesia Competent Advocates Association stressed the need for stronger safeguards to ensure AI systems do not undermine equal opportunities.
More than 100 participants attended the event, which focused on harnessing AI to expand fair access to decent work while minimizing job displacement and ensuring equal access to retraining and upskilling programs.
The dialogue was supported by the ILO’s RealGains Project, funded by the Government of Canada, and by the UN’s Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transition.
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