ILO-TEMPO Interactive Discussion: Pandemic Taking Toll on Workers' Mental Health - How 'Smart Working' Works

The COVID-19 outbreak has made working from home (WFH) the new way of working. In the midst of uncertainty, mental health problems have impacted business productivity and employees' work performance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been leaving a significant impact on the Indonesian labour market. According to the Statistic Bureau of Indonesia (BPS), the COVID-19 pandemic has affected over 29 million workers in Indonesia as of August 2020, adding to the existing pool of about seven million jobseekers that face significant difficulties in finding a job. While the development of vaccination gives hope, a labour market recovery tends to lag behind an economic recovery. Thus, the number of workers and their families who are affected by the pandemic is likely to stay at a high level throughout 2021 and during the first half of 2022. It is therefore urgent to save and create jobs. Business continuity and safety at workplaces are vital to this goal.

Against the backdrop, a new ILO project will promote job creation by enhancing COVID-19 prevention at and through workplaces and improving safety and health for workers, which is an indispensable precondition to business re-opening, continuation and expansion. The ILO has supported the government of Indonesia and social partners on the establishment of the national guidelines on COVID-19 prevention at workplaces. Based on the national guidelines and international good practices, the project intends to provide technical assistance to 1,500 workplaces to ensure necessary COVID-19 preventive measures are implemented. Through knowledge-sharing and awareness raising activities, the project promotes preventive measures against the new coronavirus in at least 1,000 additional workplaces. It also strengthens the capacity of the government, workers’ organizations and employers’ organizations so that they can effectively cope with the pandemic today and public health crises in future.

Speakers

Opening remarks:
Kazuhiko Shimizu, Counselor for Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in Indonesia and Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia

Panel discussions

dr. Celentinus Eigya Munthe, Director for Mental Health Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health

dr. Nuri Puwito Hadi, Head of Occupational Medicine Specialist Study Programme of University of Indonesia

Rakhmat Aji Pratomo, HRB Assistant Manager of PT Mitsubishi Motors Krama Yudha Indonesia

Grace Monica Halim, Technical Officer of ILO Geneva

Moderator
Dheayu Jihan, Producer of Tempo