Workplace safety creates a long-term resilience

New ways of working and improving work safety can boost the country's economy

News | Jakarta, Indonesia | 19 October 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has made security and creation of jobs very urgent. Business continuity and safety in the workplace are very important to create a long-term business resilience.

Workplace safety to protect workers and businesses (c) ILO/F. Latief
Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Michiko Miyamoto, said that the adaptation in business during the COVID-19 pandemic was very crucial. Business actors were required to take pro-active measures by identifying challenges in facing the current crisis and identifying strengths they can utilize in the COVID-19 recovery period.

The ability to assess risks for companies is important to navigate around business strategies, especially in the time of pandemic."

Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste
The ILO has supported the Indonesian government and social partners in establishing national guidelines for preventing COVID-19 in the workplace based on national guidelines and international good practices. A technical assistance to improve occupational safety and health (OSH) efforts through risk assessment of COVID-19 transmission in 1,500 workplaces has been carried out by the ILO project, supported by the Government of Japan.

"The government also plays an important role, not only in responding to crises, but also in establishing a foundation for future reforms, particularly regarding OSH. For example, exploring the implementation of Government Regulation No. 5 of 2021 on the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing. The ability to assess risks for companies is important to navigate around business strategies, especially in the time of pandemic,” she said at the Webinar on Business Activities in the Pandemic Era: Business Navigation and Maneuvering, held by the ILO in collaboration with Katadata on Thursday, 14 October.

Minister for Economic and Development Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia, Masato Usui, explained that business continuity in the workplace was a challenge in itself in many countries, including Japan and Indonesia. Therefore, he considered that new ways of working and increasing the importance of health and safety in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic could boost the country's economy. "These include a hybrid business verification and online marketing," he said.

On that occasion, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Indonesia, Teguh Dartanto, emphasized the needs for businesses to build a safer work system. In his view, the health and safety of workers was the key to future productivity.

"Why? If, for example, during this pandemic, the workforce feels unsafe and unhealthy to do work from the office, or go to work, this may affect their mood. This can also affect productivity and innovations," he explained.

He revealed that workers in the manufacturing sector have received less attention related to OSH. Therefore, he expected a strong commitment from both businesses and workers related to occupational health and safety protocols.

The central and regional governments also need to develop a guideline on OSH during the pandemic, followed by massive awareness campaigns.

A joint interactive talkshow on businesses' maneuver and navigation
Based on a survey conducted by the Katadata Insight Center (KIC), more than 35 percent of the respondents currently work with work from the office (WFO) and work from home (WFH) systems alternately. Only 23.6 percent of respondents currently fully work from home. In general, the work systems during the pandemic have applied a-strict-5M health protocol for WFO. Only 15.5 percent of respondents added a new line of products and services to expand the market (business diversification).

Respondents were also willing to return to work in the office if the companies provide the employees with masks, hand sanitizers and vitamins. More than 60 percent of the respondents also stated that the companies should provide vaccinations to employees.

Based on a survey conducted by the Katadata Insight Center (KIC), more than 35 percent of the respondents currently work with work from the office (WFO) and work from home (WFH) systems alternately... Only 15.5 percent of respondents added a new line of products and services to expand the market (business diversification) ."

Expert Staff for Increasing Investment Competitiveness at the Ministry of Investment, Heldy Satrya Putera, explained that in 2021, his ministry will encourage investments in priority sectors that have added value.

However, he explained that the ministry always maintained good coordination with various relevant parties, especially the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs to continuously monitor risk-based business licensing.

Currently, the government has maximized the best use of the licensing system through Online Single Submission (OSS). He further said that the OSS was considered a practical implementation of the Job Creation Act.

"From the health perspective as well as from security and the environment perspectives, we continue to evaluate which business activities are at risk. Coordination will always be carried out as we continue to evaluate and adjust to existing needs," he said.

Banks are in touch with many fields. Therefore, our employees must have quality knowledge so that they can practice the knowledge they have learned in their respective field of work."

Ritsuo Fukadai, Managing Director of J Trust Bank
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of J Trust Bank, Ritsuo Fukadai, stated that during the pandemic his company attempted to balance between education and health of the workers, covering around 1,000 people.

"Banks are in touch with many fields. Therefore, our employees must have quality knowledge so that they can practice the knowledge they have learned in their respective field of work," he said.

To ensure business sustainability, Bukalapak Corporate Affairs VP, Siti Sufintri Rahayu, highlighted various activities that have been done, including to encourage local players to continue growing and expanding.

"One of the ways are by increasing their understanding about the importance of digital literacy in Indonesia. We are conducting on-going educational training programmes for reporters and partners, in addition to new incentives that we hope will help micro, small and medium enterprises to their best during the pandemic," she concluded.

The live streaming of this interactive discussion can be viewed on ILO TV Indonesia