Virtual Academy on Decent Work in Rural Economy

The Academy aims to provide advanced knowledge needed to promote key labour standards in rural economy, in particular in the agriculture sector.

Agriculture continues to be the major economic driver in Indonesia’s rural economy. In 2020-21, while many sectors in the Indonesian economy witnessed severe economic slowdown due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture sector recorded growth, largely owning to export incomes from palm oil, soybean, cocoa, coffee, rubber, tea, cassava and rice. That said, as the pandemic prolongs, the sector faces the key challenge of maintaining the growth and resilience to global market uncertainties, while ensuring decent working conditions for its large workforce.

To mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and develop resilience to similar shocks in the future, the ILO has recommended that policymakers should strive to support a human-centred recovery that is robust and broad-based, focusing on employment, income, workers’ rights and social dialogue. Policy responses will need to combine the roll out of vaccination, public health measures, and supporting measures for the economy and the labour market.

The fundamental principles and rights at work and other international labour standards provide a strong basis for solutions to address these challenges in the agriculture sector, and the rural economy at large. The ILO Virtual Academy explores the fundamental principles and rights at work and provides an opportunity for the participants to learn and share on a range of innovative approaches, tools and methods for promoting decent work, towards a human-centred recovery to the COVID-19 crisis in the rural economy, and in particular, the agriculture sector in Indonesia.

Methodology and resource persons

The sessions in the Academy will apply a learner-centred methodology, with panel discussions by national and international experts, including ILO specialists from the region and the headquarters, representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Manpower and social partners, and other expert practitioners from relevant fields. The participants will have an opportunity to engage in high level policy discussions in the plenaries, followed by academic sessions for foundational knowledge on the relevant issues. Each day will close with reflections and interactive group work by the participants, to contextualize the learnings and provide space for collaboration.

Participants

The Academy aims to reach 60 to 100 participants, with at least 50 per cent women participants, and include, among others, officials from the Ministry of Manpower and other relevant ministries (e.g. Agriculture, Economic Affairs, etc.); local government and local-level officials (e.g. labour inspectors); representatives from employers’ organizations, in particular GAPKI, and the private sector; representatives from workers’ organizations, including local-level trade unions; parliamentarians, community leaders, civil society and other stakeholders active in the rural economy in Indonesia.