ILO Helps Garment Workers In Indonesia

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has launched a grievance application for garment workers in Indonesia through its Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia (SIRI) project.

ILO’s SIRI project has developed exclusive applications for three federations representing the garments industry in Indonesia. I Photo: Siswanto, ILO Asia-Pacific Flickr

The aforementioned is an undertaking in which grievance applications are managed in partnership with the National Trade Union (SPN), the Garment and Textile Trade Union Federation (Garteks), and the Textile, Garment, and Leather Trade Union Federation (FSP-TSK).

These three federations are part of the national trade union confederations.

The SPN is affiliated with the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union (KSPI), Garteks with the Confederation of All Trade Unions (KSBSI), and FSP-TSK with the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPSI).

Using the same foundation of the grievance mechanism application, the ILO’s SIRI project has developed exclusive applications for each federation, tailored to their unique identities and specific needs.

The applications are named SoPaN SPN, Teman Garteks, and Hallo Siola.

These applications were officially launched by Elly Rosita Silaban, President of KSBSI; Andi Gani Nana Wea, President of KSPSI; and Said Iqbal, President of KSPI, represented by Ramidi, Secretary General, through a video message, along with Simrin Singh, Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

The launch ceremony was followed by a live demonstration of these applications.

These applications are designed to facilitate the flow of complaints and the submission of aspirations from the federations’ members and non-members. The applications are simple and easy to access.

Once downloaded from Google Play for free, users can create an account by filling in general information.

Afterward, they can easily report complaints and/or convey aspirations by filling out the provided forms and attaching necessary supporting evidence in the form of photos, videos, and documents.

Submitted complaints or aspirations are reviewed and verified by union administrators who take necessary actions, including negotiation and mediation with management for win-win solutions.

These follow-up actions aim to create a more productive and better working environment.

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, noted the importance of the grievance application for developing harmonious industrial relations in Indonesia.

“Effective grievance mechanisms are essential for resolving conflicts through dialogues and negotiations and for promoting a conducive working environment for sustainable businesses. Therefore, these grievance applications demonstrate the continuous support of the ILO to ensure the realization of labour rights as part of decent work elements such as decent working hours, social protection, occupational safety and health (OSH), wages, and so forth.”

Meanwhile, Elly Rosita Silaban, President of KSBSI, expressed hope that these applications could be replicated in other sectors and involve other confederations and federations.

"This innovative application is important for Indonesian workers as it can be accessed by workers nationwide. Since the application also maintains workers’ confidentiality, it can strongly encourage workers to speak up and fight for their labor rights,” she said.

Additionally, Andi Gani Nana Wea, President of KSPSI, stated that the application complements the recently established Special Employment Crime Unit on Labour and Employment Disputes by the Indonesian Police.

To date, the ILO’s SIRI Project has trained a total of 477 union administrators from the three federations, equipping them with the skills needed to provide adequate services in handling cases and aspirations from members and non-members.

Funded by the Canadian Government, the ILO’s SIRI Project aims to build the capacity of garment sector workers and their representatives to effectively organize and represent all workers in Indonesia’s garment sector and to participate more actively and inclusively in key national policy advocacy.