ILO – Union Confederations release a new study on workers’ perception on sustainable enterprises in Indonesia

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the four trade union confederations (KSPSI Pasar Minggu, KSPSI Kalibata, KSBSI and KSPI) will release a new survey titled “Workers’ Perception on the Factors Supporting Sustainable Enterprises in Indonesia” on Thursday, 9 February 2012, at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta.

Press release | Jakarta, Indonesia | 08 February 2012

JAKARTA (ILO News): The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the four trade union confederations (KSPSI Pasar Minggu, KSPSI Kalibata, KSBSI and KSPI) will release a new survey titled “Workers’ Perception on the Factors Supporting Sustainable Enterprises in Indonesia” on Thursday, 9 February 2012, at Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, Jakarta. The first of its kind, the survey was carried out by the trade unions with the assistance of Bandung-based research organization called AKATIGA-Centre for Social Analysis.

The survey is in line with the Conclusions of the 2007 International Labour Conference on Sustainable Enterprises stating that “sustainable enterprises” include the elements of sustainable development in additional to their own economic sustainability. Sustainable enterprise is a concept of integration of three pillars of development: economic growth, improvement of people’s quality of life and environmental issues.

As a follow up to the conference conclusions, the ILO constituents conducted surveys on sustainable enterprise in a number of countries, including Mongolia, Swaziland, Barbados, Ghana, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

In Indonesia, the survey was conducted to learn about Indonesian workers' perception on the sustainable enterprise and what they considered as favourable conditions for sustainable enterprise. The survey also aimed at measuring and mapping the workers' perception of the seventeen pillars of conditions required in the sustainable enterprise concept covering four main elements: Economic, political, social and environmental elements.

The survey examined different perception of workers towards labour and employment issues, among others workers’ perception of social dialogue and international labour standards, the role of the government and enterprises in the application of the labour standards, decent wages, gender equality, written employment contracts and training as well as job opportunities.

It reveals that social and political elements are the most influential elements in creating an enabling environment for sustainable enterprise especially when it comes to social dialogue and social protection as an instrument for creating workers' welfare. Workers are also concerned about the improvement of their basic workers’ rights, such as freedom of association related to the existing union busting practices.

The survey also finds positive appreciation from the workers towards the companies in creating an environment that brings welfare to the workers at the company level through, for example, allowing the participation of workers in company policy making and the determination of the decent wages. The workers also appreciate efforts taken by the government to create equal opportunity for all to receive education and employment. Positive appreciation is also given to the trade unions in continuous effort to defend and improve the welfare of workers.

Administered by members of trade unions affiliated to four union confederations as part of union capacity building programme, the survey covered 216 workers working at seven enterprises in the greater area of Jakarta: 3 garment companies, 2 electronic companies and 2 automotive companies. All seven companies manufactured goods for the export and domestic markets.

For further information please contact:

Soeharjono
ILO’s Programme Officer for Workers’ Activities
Tel.: +62 391 3112
Email

Gita Lingga
Media Relation Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 39112 ext. 115
Email