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Hiring discrimination in Indonesia: age limits, appearance, marital status and your rights

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

Every job seeker in Indonesia has a right to equal treatment. Rules on age limits, appearance, marital status and disability in job ads, and how to report.

Legal status: the Labour Protection Law was approved by the DPR and the Government on 6 October 2026 but has not been promulgated and its text is not public. Until it takes effect, the rules on this page apply.

Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia); Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI

Summary

  • Every worker has an equal opportunity, without discrimination, to obtain work (Law 13/2003 Article 5).
  • Minister of Manpower circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 of 28 May 2025 bars employers from discriminating on any grounds in recruitment.
  • Age requirements are allowed only for a special need: jobs whose nature genuinely affects the ability to do the work, and/or a requirement that does not reduce job opportunities.
  • People with disabilities have the right to work without discrimination and to reasonable accommodation (Law 8/2016 Article 11).
  • The Ministry of Manpower lists the ban on hiring discrimination as the first point of the Labour Protection Law, which has not been promulgated.
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On this page
  1. Is discrimination in hiring banned in Indonesia?
  2. Can a job ad set an age limit?
  3. Can a job ad require an attractive appearance or single status?
  4. What rights do applicants with disabilities have?
  5. Can a company or agency charge me a fee to apply?
  6. Where can I report hiring discrimination?
  7. What does the new labour law say about discrimination?
  8. How do I check a suspicious job ad?

Is discrimination in hiring banned in Indonesia?

Yes. Law 13/2003 Article 5 says every worker has an equal opportunity without discrimination to obtain work, and Article 6 says every worker is entitled to equal treatment without discrimination from the employer. Law 13/2003 Article 190, as amended by Law 6/2023, lets central or regional government impose administrative sanctions for breaches of Articles 5 and 6. On 28 May 2025, the Minister of Manpower issued circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 on the ban on discrimination in recruitment, addressed to all provincial governors.

Can a job ad set an age limit?

Point 3 of circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 says age requirements in recruitment may be used only where there is a special need, under these conditions: for jobs or positions whose nature or characteristics genuinely affect a person's ability to do the work; and/or the requirement must not remove or reduce the chance of getting work. A general age cap without a clear job-related reason goes against the circular. For work abroad, the minimum age of 18 is set by law (Law 18/2017 Article 5), so it is not discrimination.

Can a job ad require an attractive appearance or single status?

Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 does not name appearance, marital status or ethnicity specifically, although some news reports said it did. Point 2 bars employers from discriminating on any grounds in recruitment, and Law 13/2003 Articles 5 and 6 are the statutory basis. Once you are employed, Law 13/2003 Article 153 as amended by Law 6/2023 also bans dismissal for marriage, pregnancy, religion, ethnicity, sex, physical condition or marital status; such a dismissal is void by law.

What rights do applicants with disabilities have?

Law 8/2016 Article 11 gives people with disabilities the right to work for government, regional government or private employers without discrimination, equal pay for equal work and responsibility, reasonable accommodation at work, and protection from dismissal because of disability. Article 53 requires government, state-owned and regional-owned enterprises and private companies to employ people with disabilities up to at least a set quota of their workforce. Article 55 requires regional governments to have a Disability Service Unit at the labour office.

Can a company or agency charge me a fee to apply?

Law 13/2003 Article 38 separates two cases. Government placement services may not charge placement fees to workers or employers (paragraph 1). Private placement agencies may charge only the employer and workers in certain grades and positions set by the Minister (paragraphs 2 and 3). For vacancies posted by companies, the Ministry of Manpower lists requests for money for admin, training or uniforms as a sign of a fake job. KarirAman itself does not list vacancies that charge applicants.

Where can I report hiring discrimination?

Keep evidence, such as screenshots of the job ad, rejection messages, or application forms with discriminatory requirements. Report it through the Ministry of Manpower's complaint channel or the district or city labour office where the company is based. Applicants with disabilities can also contact the Disability Service Unit at the labour office, which regional governments must set up under Law 8/2016 Article 55.

What does the new labour law say about discrimination?

The Ministry of Manpower's official summary of 7 October 2026 puts equality and a ban on discrimination in hiring, pay, careers and employment as the first point of the Labour Protection Law. It also says the duty to report vacancies is strengthened to prevent brokering, fraud and fake vacancies. The law has not been promulgated and its text is not public, so its articles cannot be quoted yet.

How do I check a suspicious job ad?

If a job ad asks for money, bank details or your original documents, check it first with Check a job and read Signs of a fake job. KarirAman's own fee policy is at No fees.

Not legal advice. For your own case, contact the official channels listed.

Frequently asked questions

Are job ads asking for an 'attractive appearance' banned?

Circular M/6/HK.04/V/2025 does not name appearance specifically, although some news reports said it did. What the official copy says is that employers may not discriminate on any grounds in recruitment (point 2). Law 13/2003 Article 5 also guarantees an equal chance, without discrimination, to obtain work. If an appearance requirement has nothing to do with the job, keep the ad and ask your local labour office.

I was rejected because of my age. What can I do?

Keep the job ad and any proof of the rejection. Law 13/2003 Article 5 guarantees equal opportunity to obtain work, and breaches of Article 5 can lead to administrative sanctions (Article 190 as amended by Law 6/2023). Report it through the Ministry of Manpower's complaint channel or your local labour office.

Can a company charge me a fee to apply?

For vacancies posted by companies, the Ministry of Manpower lists requests for money for admin, training or uniforms as a sign of a fake job. Law 13/2003 Article 38 bars government placement services from charging fees, and private placement agencies may charge only employers and workers in certain job grades set by the Minister.

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. DPR Sahkan UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan (emedia DPR RI, 7 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia) · accessed
  2. Menaker Ungkap Poin Penting UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan yang Wajib Diketahui Pekerja Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
  3. Undang-Undang Nomor 13 Tahun 2003 tentang Ketenagakerjaan JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 13/2003 · accessed
  4. Surat Edaran Menteri Ketenagakerjaan Nomor M/6/HK.04/V/2025 tentang Larangan Diskriminasi dalam Proses Rekrutmen Tenaga Kerja JDIH Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan · SE Menaker M/6/HK.04/V/2025 · accessed
  5. Undang-Undang Nomor 8 Tahun 2016 tentang Penyandang Disabilitas Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 8/2016 · accessed
  6. Undang-Undang Nomor 6 Tahun 2023 tentang Penetapan Perppu Nomor 2 Tahun 2022 tentang Cipta Kerja menjadi Undang-Undang Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 6/2023 · accessed
  7. Ini 5 ciri-ciri lowongan kerja palsu versi Kemnaker Republika · official statement via media · accessed
  8. Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Hiring discrimination in Indonesia: age limits, appearance, marital status and your rights. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/workers-rights/hiring-discrimination/

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