Ministry: 44% of Indonesian Daycares Operate Without Licenses

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection has reported that around 44 percent of daycare services in Indonesia operate without permits or legal status, while only 39.7 percent have official operational licenses.

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Fauziah said the ministry also found that only 12 percent of daycare centres have a formal registration mark, and just 13.3 percent are registered as legal entities.

From a governance perspective, around 20 percent of daycares do not have standard operating procedures (SOP), while 66.7 percent of managerial staff are not certified.

Arifah said the violence case involving dozens of children at the Little Aresha Daycare in Yogyakarta reflects broader structural problems in Indonesia’s childcare sector.

“The recruitment process for caregivers generally is not based on standards and still lacks specific training,” she said in a written statement on Monday, April 27, 2026.

At the same time, the ministry noted that demand for daycare services is rising sharply. It estimates that around 75 percent of families in Indonesia have used childcare services, indicating strong demand. However, Arifah said this is not matched by service quality that ensures the optimal fulfilment of children’s rights.

“But unfortunately, it is not matched by the quality of service that guarantees the optimal fulfillment of children’s rights,” she said.

To improve governance and prevent similar cases, the ministry has urged local governments and stakeholders to standardise childcare services through certification of Child-Friendly Daycare Gardens (TARA), as regulated under Ministerial Regulation No. 4 of 2024.

The regulation sets service standards based on child-centred care principles, referral networks, and partnerships. It also requires daycare managers and caregivers to understand child-centred care and have adequate professional competence.

In addition, the implementation of child safeguarding principles is mandatory, requiring all operators to protect children from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other mistreatment.

Regarding the violence case at the Aresha Daycare, Arifah said the ministry has coordinated with local authorities and relevant stakeholders to provide psychosocial assistance to victims and their families. “The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection also fully supports law enforcement in this case,” she said.

Earlier, Yogyakarta City Police raided and sealed the Little Aresha Daycare in Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, on Friday, April 24, 2026. Investigators said 53 children were subjected to physical and verbal violence.

Dozens of children were allegedly abused and neglected. “Some were tied up by their feet, hands, some even vomited but were left without any cleaning effort,” said Yogyakarta Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head Commissioner Rizky Adrian on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Medical examinations found signs of blisters, pinch marks, scratches, back injuries, and wounds on the lips. Many of the children were also diagnosed with pneumonia or lung infections.

The legal process is ongoing. On Sunday, April 26, 2026, police named 13 suspects, including daycare caregivers and managers.