Healthy women workers for productive workplaces

Around 1,800 women workers from nine garment factories in Subang District, West Java, enthusiastically gathered at Subang City Square to celebrate the Women Workers’ Festival on 14 November 2015.

News | 14 November 2015
The Women Workers’ Festival in Subang, West Java, Indonesia
Around 1,800 women workers from nine garment factories in Subang District, West Java, enthusiastically gathered at Subang City Square to celebrate the Women Workers’ Festival on 14 November 2015. Wearing orange shirts and hats, they actively participated in the morning fun walk, dance and drama competitions. They also gained knowledge from health symposium on cervical cancer awareness organized by the Indonesian Doctors’ Association (IDI) and many of them took the opportunity to take free medical check-ups and health supplements. During the symposium on cervical cancer, many participants raised question linking the sanitation condition at their workplaces with the risk of cervical cancer.

This is an important movement for Subang District as the home for thousands women workers. As we may aware, anemia is commonly affected women workers that will have an impact on their productivity. Therefore, we are committed to promote the awareness on health issues at the workplaces as healthy and productive workers not only beneficial for the enterprises but also for the workers themselves."

The Head of Subang District, Ojang Suhandi

The Festival was jointly conducted by the District Government of Subang, in collaboration with the ILO through its Better Work Indonesia (BWI) Programme, in conjunction with the commemoration of the National Health Day and the Women Workers’ Health and Productivity Movement (GP2SP).

Nationally launched in 2013, the GP2SP was locally launched in Subang District by the Head of Subang District, Ojang Suhandi, two days before the Festival on 12 November 2015. The launch was concluded with the awards given for institutions, individuals and private sector that had shown their commitments in promoting health issues at the workplaces. Three BWI’s factory partners were among the award recipients: PT. Wilbess Global, PT. Daenong Global and PT. Hansoll Hyun.

“This is an important movement for Subang District as the home for thousands women workers. As we may aware, anemia is commonly affected women workers that will have an impact on their productivity. Therefore, we are committed to promote the awareness on health issues at the workplaces as healthy and productive workers not only beneficial for the enterprises but also for the workers themselves,” said the Head of Subang District.

Meanwhile, the ILO’s Country Director, Francesco d’Ovidio, congratulated the local government of Subang for the launch of GP2SP. “I hope this programme will inspire other areas to implement similar programmes. When workers are healthy, the working attendance will also be increased. This also means an increase of productivity,” he said.