Elimination Of Age Limits In Job Vacancies To Be Fresh Winds In The Middle Of A Wave Of Layoffs

The public lined up to look for work on the second phase of the job market (job fair) in 2025 at GOR Ciracas, East Jakarta, Monday (19/5/2025). (ANTARA/Siti Nurhaliza)

JAKARTA The government's plan to remove the age limit in job vacancies requirements has received positive responses from various circles. This discourse is believed to be a solution amid the increasing number of layoffs or layoffs.

The Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli emphasized that he would issue an appeal in the form of a circular regarding the abolition of the requirement for the age limit for job vacancies. This is done because there is no need for discrimination in the job field.

"Yes, God willing, we will respond immediately, with an appeal, an appeal, a circular, God willing, it will be immediately (published)," said Yassierli at the Office of the Ministry of Manpower, Jakarta, Thursday (22/5/2025).

The age limit in job vacancies has become a hot discussion for various parties lately. East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa has even issued a circular regarding the prohibition of job vacancy age discrimination.

Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Yassierli in dialogue regarding the ratification of Convention International Labor Organization (ILO) No. 188 of 2007 with fishermen and fisheries workers who are members of the Indonesian Maritime Sector Network at the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower Office, Jakarta, Monday (26/5/2025). (ANTARA/HO/Kemnaker RI)

Director of Economics Center of Economic and Law Studies (Celios) Nailul Huda positively welcomed the government's plan to abolish the work age limit. He believes this policy makes it easier for people aged 30-40 years who have been laid off to get jobs again.

"The abolition of this age limit is arguably an opportunity for those who have lost their jobs at an adult age (30-40 years) even over 40 years old," said Huda.

Discrimination of working age is a common phenomenon, because many companies provide maximum age requirements of 35-40 years or even a maximum age of 25 years.

As a result, workers are faced with age discrimination. In fact, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said that the productive age is 15 to 64 years. This figure refers to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) which also uses the age of 15-64 years as a productive age.

The government's plan to remove the age limit requirement into fresh air for job seekers. Moreover, Indonesia is currently hit by a storm of layoffs that have occurred since last year.

The Ministry of Manpower revealed that the number of layoffs reached 26,455 cases as of May 20, 2025, with Central Java being the highest (10,695 cases), followed by Jakarta (6,279 cases), and Riau (3,570 cases).

In addition to the age limit, diction 'appears attractive' is also often a requirement in a job vacancy. Celios Economics Director Nailul Huda emphasized his support for the government's plan to remove the age limit and narration of appearing attractive' in job vacancies ads.

According to Huda, the provisions of the working age limit are very discriminatory to individuals. Currently, people who are laid off at the age of 30-40 tend to have difficulty getting their jobs back, even though their needs are higher by having a family.

Usia tersebut juga masih bisa bekerja secara produktif. Akibatnya, di usia yang tidak muda lagi, korban PHK beralih ke sektor informal yang tidak memberikan kesejahteraan yang lebih baik, kata Huda kepada VOI.

Huda added that age limits are often used as an excuse for companies to reduce labor costs, because it will be easier to attract prospective young workers. In the future, with more widespread layoffs, it is believed that adult unemployment will be higher.

"The abolition of this age limit is arguably an opportunity for those who have lost their jobs at the age of 30-40 years or even more than 40 years," said Huda.

On the other hand, labor observers from Airlangga Hadi Subhan University do not consider the age limit provisions in job vacancies as an act of discrimination.

He referred to Article 5 of Law No. 13/2003 concerning Manpower. It is stated that every workforce has the same rights and opportunities to obtain a decent job and livelihood, without distinguishing gender, ethnicity, race, religion, and political sects.

"The age limit according to the company's needs is not discrimination," said Hadi.

The matters of limiting working age, both at least age, maximum age, and retirement age are autonomous needs in each company. That means, said Hadi, each company has its own needs in recruiting workers.

Thus, the Employment Law does not regulate this, but only determines the age of adult workers is 18 years and is prohibited from employing children under 18 years of age.

"Try if airline companies want to recruit flight attendants, the 60 year old period may register," he added.

Instead of issuing the policy of eliminating the age limit in job vacancies, Hadi assessed that the government should increase economic growth so that more people are absorbed in the labor market. In addition, the government also needs to maintain an investment climate to remain conducive, such as protecting investors from illegal levies (extortion) and complicated bureaucracy.