The ILO in collaboration with the Never Okay Project, an organization deals with sexual harassment at work issues conducted an interactive discussion during the launch of the Survey on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work 2022 at the end of September in Jakarta. The discussion presented key resource persons representing the business world, creative industry and digital industry.

Dinar Titus Jogaswitani, Director of Work Relations and Wages from the Directorate General of the Industrial Relations and Social Security of the Ministry of Manpower, appreciated the initiative to conduct the workers’ survey on violence and harassment in the world of work. The survey was also in line with the efforts taken by the Ministry of Manpower to promote safe working places.

“Harmonious work relation is key. Therefore, safety and security at workplaces are important for workplace productivity. The Ministry of Manpower have initiated an establishment of Equality Task Force and Prevention on Sexual Harassment at Workplace in several provinces as an immediate response to the currently deliberated Sexual Crime Act Law No. 12/2022,” she explained before 150 participants attending the launch and discussion both offline and online.

“The momentum is timely as we need to recognize the right of every worker to be free from violence and harassment as mandated by the ILO Convention No. 190. Today, we can also discuss what we can do together and what strategic role each of us can start doing to create safe and productive workplaces,” said Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia, adding that safe workplace could also promote more women entering jobs market, particularly in male-dominated sectors and occupations.



During the interactive discussion, from the perspective of the company, Maya Juwita, Executive Director of the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE), expressed her concerned on lack of trust from workers as victims of violence and harassment to management and HRD in reporting their experiences. The report reveals that the victims prefer to remain silent as 45.61 percent have lack of trust that the HRD/management would take actions.

“To build this trust, it is important to have the commitment from the management and this should be coming from the top to bottom. It is also important to disseminate this important finding to the networks of HRD and companies,” stated Maya.

She also added the urgent needs for training on how to handle violence and harassment cases at the company level. “This is to respond the result of the report showing that 34.53 percent of workers exclaim that there is no mechanism at their workplaces. The training can help companies to set up an appropriate mechanism,” she continued.

Meanwhile, sharing her experiences working in the creative industry as an actor, Hannah Al Rashid explained that since the year of 2020, the Indonesian film industry has attempted to improve working conditions and pay a serious attention to this issue. “Workers of filming industry are vulnerable to harassment since the nature of work does not provide us with HRD as well as a reporting and case handling mechanism. I experienced harassments at work many times and nothing I could do but to put them aside to stay professional,” she shared.

To break the silence and improve the working condition, Hannah has been known as an active campaigner for gender equality. Together with other female actors, Hannah has advocated gender equality and equity for safe working environment in film industry to film associations and other associations.

“I am pleased to announce that we have piloted a film production where issues on harassment are written in the contract and the sexual harassment training is conducted. Anti-harassment posters are also posted in the filming area and a hotline number is also available for case reporting,” she added.

Meanwhile, commenting on the survey’s finding that working from home or working outside the office do not guarantee the safety of workers from workplace violence and harassment, Nenden S. Arum, Head of the Freedom of Expression Division of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), said that there is an increase in cyberbullying and online gender-based violence and, as a result, it has escalated the vulnerability of workers.

“Our society still do not take online violence and harassment as a serious matter. They argue that it was only a funny joke so do not take it seriously. Thus, we need to recognize that online harassment and violence is a serious as the physical harassment," stated Nenden.

She also encouraged the society to stand up against violence and harassment and hoped that actions are taken to prevent acts of violence and harassment at work. “Different from physical violence and harassment, online violence and harassment leave online traces that can be easier to track down by HRD. Every one can also act as a witness; thus, it is important to have a reporting mechanism,” she concluded.

The ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) is the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. Adopted in June 2019 by the ILO’s International Labour Conference, C190 came into force on 25 June 2021.

The full report of the Survey on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work 2022 can be accessed here.