The vlogs screened and the winning announcement took place at the ILO’s BWI Indonesia Business Forum held from 30-31 October 2019. The annual forum was attended by hundreds of participants from the garment industries at national and international levels. These included governments, employer associations, trade unions as well as international brands and suppliers.

Starting with gender and vlog training

Before the competition, ILO’s BWI invited garment and footwear factories to send their story proposals for a first selection. From the 99 story proposals received, 15 were shortlisted to participate in a training. This training intended to equip selected participants with knowledge on gender issues and skills to produce their own vlogs that illustrate the importance of gender equality and later to promote equality at the workplace.

In the training held in September 2019, the participants learnt how to use their smartphones to produce vlogs, shoot pictures and develop interesting story plots and video editing. Post completion, they also received guidance from their training mentors’ throughout the production process until finalizing their vlogs. In addition to that, session on gender in the training aimed to sharpen the knowledge of participants on gender issues.

“We always try to be innovative in engaging our garment and footwear factories partners. Last year, we conducted a successful photo and video competition on occupational safety and health issues. This year we wanted to follow the trend by having vlog competition as a way to actively engage our garment factory partners in our gender campaign and to be part of public awareness on gender equality,” said Pipit Savitri, Communication and Partnerships Officer of ILO’s BWI Programme.

Most of the participants already have a passion in producing vlogs. Some of them even have dreams to open their own Youtube channels and become a professional Youtubers. They all admitted that the vlog training helped them to be a better and more productive vlogger.

The second winning vlogger, Fendi M. Efendi, HRD staff of PT Ungaran Sari Garment (USG) in Semarang, Central Java, said that he learned a lot on how to develop interesting script and how the story flow should capture the attention of viewers. “Before, I just shoot my vlog without script or story line. I learned that we need to make our story attractive not only for ourselves but also for others,” he said.


His vlog titled “We All Can” featuring Erna Rahmawati, the only female driver at PT USG. The vlog demonstrated that women could also do well in a male-dominated profession. Using a storytelling format, the vlog shows the skillful side of Erna as a professional driver, appreciations from her fellow male drivers and her cheerful personality.

Anis Nugroho, BWI director, explained that investing in storytelling and video skills of factory workers is a winning strategy that allows workers to be able to do their own sensitization and awareness raising about issues such as gender equality.

Full support from the management

The production of the vlogs received a full support from the management. The vlog teams granted approval to produce the vlogs during working hours for one or two days. Indra Mustaqin and Isabella, HRD staff of PT Changshin Reksa Jaya in Garut, West Java, said that the management really supported the vlog production and their participation in the competition.

“Even my former supervisor who already returned to the Philippines called me up to give his support,” told Indra. Not only that, supports also came from fellow workers in the factory.


Their vlog titled “Pregnant Priorities” won social media favorite category. It highlights factory’s facilities for pregnant workers. The vlog illustrated company’s shuttle bus and a special pathway with railings for pregnant workers so they do not have to climb up and down the steep pathways to go to work. These facilities accommodates the needs of 340 pregnant workers to maintain their healthy pregnancies.

Meanwhile the third winning vlog titled “Work Life Balance: Little Family Life in Garment Industry” by Rinanda Dwi F. Army, HRD staff of PT Eco Smart Garment Indonesian Klego, Boyolali, Solo, talked about a work-life balance. It documented the lives of newly wed Rinanda and her husband and how they support one another to balance responsibilities between work and home.


“I see many working women at garment factories have to bear double burdens both at work and home. Through this vlog I just want to raise the awareness that responsibilities at work and home are genderless,” she said.

The winners of the vlog competition won cash prizes, trophies and vlogging tools. Further to that, they would have their videos/photos profiled in both the ILO and Better Work websites, social media and other publications to promote public awareness on gender equality.

The enthusiasms from the vloggers also continue. “I want to produce more vlogs about other issues related to our work in the garment industry,” said Rudy; while Indra who has passion about employment issues will continue producing educative and informative vlogs about workplaces, including gender related issues.