Jakarta, 7 March 2025 – In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX), in collaboration with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), UN Global Compact Network Indonesia (IGCN), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE), proudly held the 6th annual Ring the Bell for Gender Equality (RTBFGE) event in Indonesia. The event was held at the IDX Main Hall raising the global theme of “Ring the Bell for ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”
The RTBFGE is a global initiative supported by the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchange (SSE), UN Global Compact, UN Women, and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE). This year, approximately 117 stock exchanges worldwide have registered to participate in this campaign, which seeks to raise awareness and commitment to gender equality in the business world.
Despite progress on gender equality, significant challenges persist in achieving gender equality in the workplace. In 2023, the labour force participation rate for women in Indonesia stood at just 55%, compared to 85% for men (BPS, 2024). According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 2023, female professionals in Indonesia earned an average wage of $4 per hour, significantly lower than men, who earned $6 per hour. Additionally, the SDG Global Database indicates that women had limited opportunities for leadership positions, with only 32% of managerial roles in 2022 held by women. Given these challenges, it is crucial for companies to implement inclusive policies that provide equal opportunities and foster an environment that supports women’s empowerment. Businesses that promote gender equality and advocate for women’s rights not only drive social progress but also contribute to creating more inclusive, resilient, and successful workplaces and communities.
This event brought together key stakeholders, including corporate leaders, policy makers, and gender equality advocates, to discuss “How to Maintain Work-Life Integration: Policies that Empower Women”, aimed to encourage inclusive workplace policies and promote women’s empowerment. The event was opened by IDX’s President Commissioner Nurhaida, who stated, “Integrating work and personal life is essential in fostering a supportive environment for women’s well-being and productivity. Policies that promote this balance not only empower women but also cultivate a more inclusive and sustainable workplace.”
“The business sector is a crucial part of our work in ensuring the effective implementation of gender equality. Synergy and collaboration must be established not only between ministries and agencies but also with Pentahelix approach, which include the business sector,” said Ratna Susianawati, Expert Staff for Law and Human Rights at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, in her remarks.
Through World Café-style discussion, corporate executives and industry leaders shared best practices and explored effective policies that support employees’ rights to achieve work-life integration. For instance, through maternity and paternity leave, including for husbands, as well as flexible work arrangements that support the role of working parents. The discussion was initiated by UN Women Indonesia Representative and Liaison to ASEAN, Ulziisuren Jamsran, who stated, “2025 marks 30 years of progress since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark international commitment to advancing gender equality, with women’s economic empowerment as a key priority. At this pivotal moment, UN Women calls for turning commitments into action and actions into tangible results to ensure that all women and girls in Indonesia are free from discrimination, have access to decent work, and can fully exercise leadership. This can be achieved by fostering partnerships across public, private and civil society sectors, and having women’s voices and practices at the center as a way to steer towards transformative change.”
Furthermore, this event also had a panel discussion session. The discussion featured well-known female business leaders that are Independent Commissioner of PT Bank OCBC NISP Tbk Betti S. Alisjahbana and Head of Communication, Chair of the ED&I Board Indonesia at PT Unilever Indonesia Tbk Kristy Nelwan and moderated by IBCWE’s Executive Director Wita Krisanti. The discussion addressed various challenges and inspiring practices to foster a more inclusive workplace ecosystem and encourage more women reach leadership positions.
“Creating a safe and inclusive work environment is a strategic investment in business sustainability, not just about regulatory compliance. Companies with more women in leadership teams also have higher chance to achieve better financial performance. For reaching this goal, we must first build a workplace ecosystem free from gender bias and discrimination, where every talent has an equal opportunity to grow and contribute,” said Wita as the panel discussion opening.
As part of the event, the Ring the Bell session symbolized the business community’s commitment to promote gender equality and implement the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in the workplace. Launched by UN Women and UN Global Compact Network in 2010, WEPs is a set of principles that provides guidance for businesses in supporting women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace, and community. To date, more than 10,000 companies worldwide have signed the WEPs, including 206 companies from Indonesia.
“Ensuring economic opportunities for women is an urgent imperative for driving growth and global development. If women participated in the workforce at the same rate as men, global economic output could rise by a third,” said Euan Marshall, IFC Country Manager for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. “Yet, women continue to face barriers in the workplace. Through the Ring the Bell for Gender Equality and partnerships with businesses and stock exchanges, we are advancing private sector-led solutions to expand opportunities and empower women.”
Closing the event, IGCN’s Executive Director Josephine Satyono reiterated the importance of empowering women to thrive through an equitable work environment. “Inclusive policies and workplace culture not only support women’s career advancement and well-being but also enhance company productivity,” stated Josephine.
With over 90 participants from corporate representatives, this event served as a significant momentum for advocating progressive policies that support gender equality in the workplace. Through collaboration among various stakeholders, it is hoped that a more balanced work-life integration can be achieved, along with increased female representation in decision-making and leadership roles in the workplace.
