In promoting compliance with labour standards to strengthen workers protection, business continuity and gender equality, the ILO and the Riau Province Office of Manpower and Transmigration (Disnakertrans) held a meeting in Pekanbaru on 18 July to form Provincial Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Council (DK3P) and a Tripartite Forum for the palm oil sector.

The establishment of the Sectoral Tripartite Forum was proclaimed by the signing ceremony of a joint commitment among the provincial government, employers’ and workers’ organizations. The commitment was signed by Wijatmoko Rah Trisno, Head of the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) of Riau, Lichwan Hartono, Chairperson of Indonesian Palm Oil Association (Gapki) Riau, Juandy Hutauruk, Regional Head of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Union (KSBSI) Riau, Nursal Tanjung, Head of the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Union (KSPSI Rekonsiliasi) Riau and Dr. H. Imron Rosyadi, Head of the Riau Manpower and Transmigration Office.

"The Tripartite Forum is expected to encourage compliance with labour regulations, especially on OSH and gender equality in palm oil sector. The palm oil sector has contributed greatly to sustaining economic conditions in Riau with a significant contribution to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) and employment," said Rival Lino, Head Inspector of the Riau Manpower and Transmigration Office.

Known as one of the provinces in Sumatra with the most palm oil plantations and as the greater palm oil producer in the country, the implementation of OSH in palm oil has become a crucial issue in Riau. Thus, the establishment of DK3P of Riau is part of the effort to moving the province of Riau forward in cultivating OSH through cooperation between multi-stakeholders and in complying with the Law No. 1/1970 on Occupational Safety and the Manpower Ministerial Decree No. 18/2016 on National OSH Council.

The discussion on formation of DK3P of Riau highlighted strategies and approaches by mapping out key priorities issues in the province, ways to strengthen committee capacity, and work programs. It is planned that DK3P’s committee structures will be formed within the month of July and the inauguration will be conducted in the following month.

Sharing the good practices from DK3P of East Java, Edi Priyanto, Deputy Head DK3P East Java, emphasized the importance of OSH awareness raising to build a strong OSH culture. “We work with universities, journalists and youth to advocate OSH principles, in addition, a communication platform has been developed and is available through the DK3P East Java website," Edi explained.

Januar Rustandi, ILO’s Coordinator for Workers’ Rights Project, wished that the existence of DK3P would be able to bridge the policy and practice gaps related to OSH at the cross-sectoral provincial level. He also hoped that it could encourage an active role of the Riau Province in realizing OSH as part of the fundamental principles and rights at work that have been added at the 110th International Labor Conference.

Attended by more than 50 participants from local governments, public legal entities, OSH practitioners as well as employers' associations and trade unions, the establishment of DK3P and the Tripartite Forum were supported by the ILO through its Improving Workers' Rights in the Indo-Pacific Rural Sector with a focus on Women project. Funded by United States Department of Labor (USDOL), the project has also supported the formation of DK3P of North Sulawesi last May to enhance decent employment opportunities and local economic growth.