Sujadi Siswo, Jakarta – Women in Indonesia are staking their claim in the country's developing economy, 13 years after the world's fourth most populous nation underwent political reform.

There are now more women being employed and holding high office in the private and public sector, a result of better education and opportunities. However, rights groups have warned that religious fundamentalism could hamper women's progress in Indonesia.

Noni Purnomo takes the Blue Bird Group cab in Jakarta at least once a month despite having a car and driver. She wants to make sure the cab company maintains its high service standards.

Ms Noni is no ordinary passenger. She is the vice-president of the Blue Bird Group – the biggest cab company in Indonesia with a fleet of 23,000 vehicles. It was founded by her late grandmother in 1972, possibly the only cab company in Asia started by a woman.

Ms Noni said: "It started in our garage. I used to call it a garage company because we used our garage as our office. And so I got involved in the company pretty young because I was three years old when the company was developed. It was sort of like my everyday life... chit-chatting with the drivers to see what was going on. I am lucky in a way that my grandmother was very close to me."

An engineer by training, Ms Noni has been groomed for the last 10 years to lead the family business now headed by her father.

But she does not want the position to be simply given to her. She said: "We all agree that the most suitable and best person should lead. It does not matter who. I think that is the one we all accept. So if I want to (head the company), then I have to really work hard to earn it, not (just) being given the title.

When asked if she wanted to lead the family business, Ms Noni said: "Well, I have been living and breathing in this company for such a long time."

Ms Noni embodies the spirit of the younger generation Indonesian woman – educated, ambitious and ready to compete in male-dominated fields.

A glance at the various sectors in Indonesia attests to greater participation by women. However, they are still grossly under-represented in top positions despite making up half of Indonesia's 230 million population.

For example, in the cabinet, representation by women is 11 per cent; in local government, it is 1.8 per cent; in banking, it is 16 per cent, whereas in public companies, it is 11 per cent.

Women activist Mariana Amiruddin – who is the executive director of Jurnal Perempuan Foundation – believes there is still much work to be done, especially since the majority of Indonesian women only have basic education.

She said: "There would be no problem if the majority of Indonesian women are not from the lower class. Indonesia's democracy allows us to do anything for the country, provided we have power, money and position. We can then influence policies. But majority of Indonesian women are poor and have very little access to education and health."

Poverty and lack of education have forced millions of Indonesian women to become domestic helpers at home and abroad. Domestic helpers' hard-earned salary abroad has proved vital in breaking the cycle of poverty. But it is not without risks. Many domestic helpers have been abused and even killed, thousands of kilometres away from home.

However, even at home, Indonesian women are facing a new kind of threat.

Ms Mariana said: "Indonesia's reform has now evolved into producing discriminative policies. They are called Syariah-inspired by-laws. They favour certain religious groups at the provinces and regulate the way women should dress."

There are concerns that Syariah-inspired by-laws enacted by several provincial governments are putting women at a disadvantage. But despite the challenges, there is one constant Indonesian women can count on.

Ms Noni said: "We have families. Normally, if the women go to work, the grandmother will take care of the children or even the aunt...cousins, everybody will just help you out. In that sense, we have the network."

But the social support network too appears to be gradually under threat as more Indonesian women get better educated and leave home to pursue their careers. (CNA/ms)