“Sorry, We Rejected Your Application”: A Study on the Age Limit of Job Seekers in Indonesia from a Human Rights Perspective

Age restrictions in the job recruitment process are an increasingly relevant issue in many countries, causing discrimination against job applicants who meet the qualifications but are considered unsuitable simply because of their age. This study examines the application of age restrictions in job applications from the perspective of human rights, as well as its impact on equal employment opportunities, social welfare, and economic productivity. Through literature studies, it was found that age discrimination, both against young and elderly age groups, is still rampant in Indonesia, even though it contradicts the principles of equality in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). While regulations such as the Age Discrimination in Employment Act in the U.S., the Employment Equality Directive in the European Union, and Law No. 13 of 2003 on Employment have been implemented, weaknesses in law enforcement and strong age stereotypes remain major obstacles. This study emphasizes that the age limit in job applications is a violation of the right to decent work and recommends the implementation of competency-based recruitment policies, strengthening anti-discrimination regulations, and raising awareness of the importance of creating an inclusive work environment. This step is important for building a fairer, more dynamic, and sustainable labor market in the era of industrial transformation.