Indonesia’s free school meal programme was one of the most ambitious social policy commitments in the country’s recent history. Announced as a flagship policy of the new administration, MBG aimed to reduce child malnutrition, improve educational outcomes and strengthen long-term human capital development.

For many young people, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant technology. It is already part of everyday life: helping with homework, summarising notes, drafting messages, answering questions and, increasingly, offering a space to talk. Generative AI chatbots are always available, non-judgmental and responsive. For adolescents navigating stress, loneliness or uncertainty, these qualities can make them feel less like tools and more like companions.

Caregiving for sick or old relatives, children, or other family members causes millions of women in Indonesia to wake before the sun comes up. Households and communities rely on their labour, yet it is hardly brought up in economic debates or labour legislation.

When we discuss the future of work, we usually jump to AI, green jobs, and digital skills. Those conversations matter, but they miss something basic: paid work runs on care work. Children, older adults, and people with disabilities still need daily support, no matter how advanced an economy becomes. In aging societies, care needs rise while family size shrinks. The central policy question is straightforward: who provides care, and what protections do they have?