Kick-off workshop

Improving capacity of employers and workers in footwear sector to prevent and handle gender-based violence and harassment at work

The kick-off workshop will be held by the RealGains Project in partnership with BWI and its implementing partner, KKF. Its purpose is to present the project's design and goals while encouraging positive communication among stakeholders in the footwear industry to enhance the ability of employers and workers to prevent and manage GBVH.

Content also available in: Bahasa Indonesia

Background

Indonesia is among the top ten global footwear producers, employing approximately 960,000 workers directly and up to 1.3 million indirectly. With 60–80% women in the workforce, the sector is highly vulnerable to gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH). An ILO study (2022) found that 71% of respondents had experienced at least one form of workplace violence or harassment, highlighting the urgency for intervention.

Building on this, the RealGains Project—in collaboration with Better Work Indonesia (BWI) Programme and its implementing partner, the Kemitraan Kerja Foundation (KKF)—will host this workshop, aligned with Outcome 1, Output 1.4 of the RealGains Project, to improve the capacity of employers and workers in the footwear sector to prevent and handle GBVH.

Objectives

The kick-off workshop aims to introduce project design and objectives while fostering dialogue among footwear sector stakeholders about preventing GBVH at work.

It seeks commitments from factory management and relevant organizations to implement GBVH prevention measures and enhance the capacity of Respect Teams/Task Forces in factories.

The workshop will also promote collaboration with BWI Programme and refine GBVH prevention strategies based on stakeholder feedback tailored to the footwear sector.

Strategy

The workshop aims to promote a participatory, multi-stakeholder approach for GBVH prevention initiatives. It will raise awareness through frameworks and project design, featuring practical tools like PINGTAR.

Engagement with government, employer associations, trade unions, and factory taskforces is crucial for fostering dialogue.

The event encourages commitments from factories and unions to embed GBVH prevention in workplace policies, sharing insights from the Better Work Respectful Workplace Programme. Feedback from participants will ensure ongoing improvement aligned with workplace realities.

Targeted participants

Approximately 40 participants from:

Factory management and Respect Teams/Task Forces (5 footwear factories)
Trade union federations
Ministry of Manpower
Selected brand partners of the BWI Programme
APRISINDO (Indonesia Footwear Association)
APINDO (The Indonesian Employers’ Association)
ILO-related projects

Activity agenda

Time	Session	Remark
12.00 – 13.30	Lunch Registration	MC: KKF
13.30 – 14.00	Opening remark Project overview	ILO Country Director MoM: overview of GBVH at workplace and government commitment/program
14:00 – 14:10	Group photo
14.10 – 15.10	Panel talkshow: GBVH situation in footwear sector in Indonesia Better Work Indonesia New Balance PT HornMing Indonesia	BWI: activities to raise awareness on GBVH at the workplace and show connection between BWI’s RWP and RealGains project New Balance: brands commitment in supporting factories on GBVH prevention measures Factory: experiences and best practices in implementing GBVH awareness and prevention measures at the workplace Moderator: RealGains Project
15.10 – 15:25	Tea break
15.25 – 16.00	Kemitraan Kerja Foundation: Overview of implementation plan and microlearning tools on GBVH Signing of Letter of Commitment with the five participating factories
16.00 –16.30	Q & A Feedback through "Menti"
16.30 – 17:00	Wrap-up and closing