Employers Association Apindo Opposes Eradication of Age Limitation in Job Hiring

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) responded to presidential candidates' promise to cancel job applicants' age limitation. The head of Apindo's manpower department Bob Azam said the government would better increase the number of job opportunities instead of implementing the policy.

According to Bob, age limitation is a necessary hiring practice considering the specific requirements of certain types of jobs. "[Age limitation] could be implemented due to the overwhelming numbers of applicants compared to the jobs available," he told Tempo on Jan. 16.

Bob believes the eradication of age limitation would come naturally if Indonesia's job market is not as rigid as it currently is. "Easy hiring and easy firing," he said.

The idea of eradicating age limitation hiring practice was stated by two presidential candidates, namely Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo. 

Ganjar promised to eradicate the practice after listening to complaints from young people claiming some jobs implement a maximum of 24 years old in their recruitment.

Saying how it's unfair, Ganjar said "[age] does not equal how young people are always capable and the older people are not as competent. That's not a certainty."

A similar notion was also presented by candidate number 1 Anies Baswedan during a 'Desak Anies' event in Ambon on Monday. "We disagree with age limitation [in hiring practices]. If God is willing, we will change the law so both public and private companies would be the same," Anies said.

RIANI SANUSI PUTRI

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