ILO supports initiatives of Indonesian Manpower Minister to prevent violence and harassment at work
As part of the ILO commitment to create a world of work that is free from violence and harassment as mandated by the ILO’s Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment, the ILO supports the establishment of the Equality Task Force and Prevention on Sexual Harassment at Workplace in various provinces.
Violence and harassment at work, including gender-based violence, is a serious problem. The existence of violence and harassment can cause losses to both companies and workers. The ILO supports the effort taken by the Ministry of Manpower to promote the elimination of violence and harassment by establishing an Equality Task Force and Prevention on Sexual Harassment at Workplace in several provinces.
The ILO supports the effort taken by the Ministry of Manpower to promote the elimination of violence and harassment. The support given by the ILO is part of the ILO’s global and national campaign to promote the ratification of the ILO’s Convention No. 190 (C190) on Violence and Harassment. 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 ILO’s C190 is very relevant with the Manpower Minister’s Task Force to provide better protection for workers, particularly women workers, and to create workplaces that are free from any forms of harassments, especially sexual harassments."
Dyah R. Sudarto, ILO’s programme coordinator for C190 on work violence and harassment issues, invited by the Ministry as resource person at the formation of Task Force in South Tangerang and South Sumatra in June and August, respectively. South Tangerang is known for the location of many prominent companies and factories, while South Sumatra is the main location of many regional companies.
Attended by around 50 representatives of companies in each area, Dyah presented key information related to C190, providing principles and recommendations can provide a clear guidance and framework in preventing violence and harassment at the company level. “The ILO’s C190 is very relevant with the Manpower Minister’s Task Force to provide better protection for workers, particularly women workers, and to create workplaces that are free from any forms of harassments, especially sexual harassments,” she stated.
The Task Force is established under the Manpower Ministry’s Directorate General of Industrial Relations and Labour Social Security as an immediate response to the currently deliberated Sexual Crime Act Law No. 12/2022. To further support the works of the Task Force, the Ministry of Manpower would enhance the capacity of its staff, particularly staff working in gender, non-discrimination and harassment unit.
In addition, Dyah concluded that the C190 socialization and knowledge sharing were expected to improve the understanding of the provincial manpower offices at the regional level regarding workplace violence and harassment principles and to equip them to be readier in implementing the new Law with the local companies.
In addition to the ILO, the events also presented resource persons from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and city police department.
