Indonesian Actor's LinkedIn 'Open to Work' Badge Sparks Unemployment Debate
Indonesian actor Prilly Latuconsina has issued a public apology after facing significant backlash for using LinkedIn's "Open to Work" badge in what appears to be a marketing strategy. The controversy has ignited a heated debate about the appropriate use of professional networking tools in a country grappling with substantial unemployment challenges.
The LinkedIn Post That Started It All
On 26 January, Latuconsina, a 29-year-old actor known for her work in the Indonesian entertainment industry, activated the "Open to Work" badge on her LinkedIn profile. In a post written in Indonesian, she explained that she was seeking to gain experience outside the entertainment sector, specifically mentioning an interest in "offline sales" roles where she could meet people face-to-face and understand consumer needs directly.
"I'm activating the hashtag #OpenToWork badge not because I'm lacking activities, but because I want to learn something new," Latuconsina wrote, according to online translations. "All this time, I've been heavily involved in the film industry and business management. Now I'm curious to challenge myself in a different space."
The LinkedIn feature is typically used by genuine job seekers as a professional signal to recruiters that they are actively looking for employment opportunities.
Swift Response and Growing Controversy
Within hours of her post, Latuconsina received more than 30,000 reactions and numerous job offers. She later shared on Instagram that the response was "nerve wracking" and that she had begun responding to employment opportunities. Among these was an offer from toothpaste brand Sensodyne, which she accepted for an offline sales representative position at their Summarecon Mall Bekasi location.
However, the situation quickly turned controversial as Indonesian jobseekers began questioning whether a professional feature designed for those genuinely seeking employment should be used by celebrities for what appeared to be marketing purposes.
"For people who use it genuinely, it represents financial pressure, the stress of sending out dozens of applications into the void, the quiet humiliation of being overlooked," one user wrote on LinkedIn. "It's not a fun branding exercise. When someone with Prilly's level of financial security and existing employment contract uses that badge as a campaign hook, it turns a survival tool into a prop."
Indonesia's Employment Landscape
The backlash against Latuconsina's post must be understood within the context of Indonesia's current employment challenges. According to official data from Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS), Indonesia's statistics agency, approximately 7.35 million Indonesians were unemployed as of November 2025. While this represented a slight decrease from 7.46 million in August, it remains a significant number in a workforce of about 155 million people.
The national unemployment rate stood at 4.74 percent in November 2025, meaning nearly five people out of every 100 in the labor force were actively seeking work. A BPS survey released in 2025 also revealed that around 59.4 percent of workers were employed in informal sectors, highlighting the precarious nature of employment for many Indonesians.
Twenty-two-year-old Ebi, who graduated in August 2025 and has been interning at a human rights non-governmental organization, told The Straits Times that she had sent out more than 100 job applications without success. "Honestly, I was angry; I even ranted about it on Twitter. The campaign was really insensitive," she said.
Public Reaction and Apology
The controversy intensified as more Indonesians expressed their frustration on social media. One comment on Latuconsina's Instagram highlighted the disparity: "If you see many brands and companies commenting and offering jobs, it means that actually finding a job isn't that hard – as long as you have 27 million followers and you're a public figure."
Following the backlash, the collaboration with Sensodyne appears to have been cancelled. In February, Latuconsina issued a public apology on social media, acknowledging the hurt caused by her actions.
"I am aware that my position and my life experience are not the same as everyone else, and I understand why this can hurt some people," she said, according to a translated report by VOI. "I understand why people were angry, disappointed, or uncomfortable with my post."
The incident has sparked broader conversations about:
- The appropriate use of professional networking platforms
- The sensitivity required when discussing employment in challenging economic climates
- The power dynamics between celebrities and ordinary citizens in job markets
- The ethics of marketing campaigns that leverage genuine employment struggles
This controversy comes at a time when Indonesia has seen public frustration over economic disparities. Last year, violent protests swept across the country after revelations that members of the House of Representatives received a monthly housing allowance nearly 10 times the Jakarta minimum wage, seen as excessive and insensitive amid rising living costs and unemployment.
