Closing the Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia (SIRI) Project

Background

The "Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia" (SIRI) project, implemented by the International Labour Organization (ILO), aims to enhance the effectiveness and participation of Indonesian unions in policymaking. Supported by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the project empowers workers and their representatives in the garment sector to organize efficiently, advocate for workers' rights, and engage actively in national policy development.

This project addresses several critical challenges facing workers and their organizations today:

1. Declining membership and difficulties in internal data management and outreach within garment trade unions.
2. Gender-related issues include the lack of women in leadership roles and the absence of gender-inclusive policies and practices in union management and operations.
3. Limited capacity and coordination among unions for effective policy advocacy.
4. Insufficient awareness among garment workers regarding their rights, particularly about new labour laws.
5. A lack of skills in organizing and fostering workplace cooperation, especially among unions and worker representatives (including unaffiliated trade unions) with limited access to training and support.

The project aims to tackle these challenges by helping trade unions improve their operational, technical, and policy engagement capacities at the federation, branch, and workplace levels. Special attention will be given to promoting gender inclusion, empowering women members, and amplifying their voices in decision-making processes and policy discussions. This approach is expected to enhance garment trade unions' overall positioning and bargaining power at national and workplace levels, leading to more effective industrial relations.

From March 2022 to February 2025, the SIRI project has fostered fair, inclusive, and sustainable industrial relations throughout Indonesia. The project has achieved key milestones through initiatives like grievance mechanism applications, capacity-building workshops, and policy dialogues. The final activity will celebrate these achievements, promote stakeholder collaboration, and inspire continued progress in industrial relations.

Objectives

The closing activity will:

• Showcase the project’s key achievements and impacts.
• Recognize the contributions of stakeholders and participants.

Date and Venue

The closing of the project will be organized on 5 February 2025 in AYANA Midplaza Jakarta Hotel.

Participants

The participants of the activity will be around 150 participants from:

• Union representatives at national and factory levels
• Confederations
• Federations (SP TSK SPSI, Garteks, SPN)
• Government officials from the Ministry of Manpower, Republic of Indonesia
• Employers and industry associations
• International and local partners
• Project team members and consultants
• Media representatives
• Civil society organizations