JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Indonesian companies must stop using appearance-based criteria such as “good-looking” when recruiting workers. Manpower Minister Yassierli has stressed this point as the government pushes for fairer and more transparent access to employment.

Yassierli urged employers to evaluate candidates according to their qualifications, skills and ability to perform a job. Such evaluations should be done instead of using subjective physical preferences.

Job seekers who encounter discriminatory requirements should document and report them through official employment channels.

The policy applies nationally and covers recruitment by companies across Indonesia.

Yassierli signed the government’s nondiscrimination policy in Manpower Ministerial Circular No. M/6/HK.04/V/2025 dated 28 May 2025. The circular remains active in the Manpower Ministry’s legal database.

It directs employers to conduct recruitment objectively, transparently and according to job-related competencies.

Requirements considered discriminatory include an undefined “good-looking” standard, irrelevant age limits, marital status, ethnicity, skin color and physical measurements. These factors have no direct connection to workplace safety or essential job functions.

The policy does not prevent an employer from setting a genuine occupational requirement. A company should be able to demonstrate that the criterion directly relates to the nature, safety or essential duties of the position. It cannot be based simply on a recruiter’s personal preference.

During a government campaign for fair and transparent recruitment in Bekasi in May 2025, Yassierli emphasized that employers carry an ethical responsibility. This responsibility goes beyond formal compliance.

“This is not merely about regulation but about our shared integrity and responsibility,” he said, according to the Manpower Ministry.

Indonesia had a labor force of 154.91 million people in February 2026, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). About 7.24 million people remained unemployed, placing the national open unemployment rate at 4.68 percent.

The figures underline the importance of protecting equal access to job opportunities. Subjective appearance requirements can exclude qualified applicants before employers assess their competence, experience or potential.

BPS also reported that 147.67 million people were employed in February 2026. This figure shows an increase of approximately 1.9 million from the previous year.

The data came from the agency’s National Labor Force Survey covering 77,400 households nationwide. Full figures are available through Statistics Indonesia.

Applicants can submit complaints through the ministry’s Lapor Menaker service.

Users must sign in with an SIAPkerja account, complete the complaint form and attach supporting evidence. This evidence can include screenshots of the job advertisement, the company’s identity and relevant communications.

The ministry says it protects complainants’ identities and routes reports to labor inspectors or other competent agencies.

Applicants should retain the original advertisement. This is because a report does not automatically establish a violation; authorities must verify the evidence and circumstances.

The ministerial circular establishes national administrative guidance but does not specify a separate criminal penalty solely for using the phrase “good-looking.” Labor authorities must assess each complaint under applicable employment laws and regulations.