Empowering university students to champion workplace safety and health

JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) - Occupational safety and health (OSH) is a crucial aspect of the modern workplace, ensuring the well-being of workers and fostering productive environments. As the future workforce, university students must navigate an ever-changing landscape of OSH concerns. Recognizing the significance of OSH, the ILO organized a series of activities designed to engage university students, equipping them with essential knowledge and communication strategies to drive change and compliance in workplaces.

These series of activities were conducted, in conjunction with the commemoration of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work, in collaboration with Esa Unggul University on 16 April and Indonesia’s Nationwide University Network (NUNI), consisting of 21 universities across the country on 8 May under the theme: “Influence Others, Save Lives Series: The Importance of OSH in Workplace Expert Class”.

© ILO

© ILO

Engaging over 125 students and lecturers, these series of activities were facilitated by the ILO’s OSH experts from the ILO Country Office for Indonesia, highlighting introduction to OSH, practices in workplace, current emerging issues on OSH and brief introduction to legal basis on OSH such as relevant ILO Conventions and OSH National Roadmap.

“By facilitating discussions with the ILO OSH experts, students can engage in meaningful exchanges that provide real-world insights and practical applications. We hope that by raising awareness, refining advocacy skills and fostering dialogue, this initiative empowers students to become proactive agents of workplace safety and health when entering the world of work,” stated Abdul Hakim, ILO’s Programme Officer for OSH.

This session is a perfect 10 out of 10! ... As a law major, I recognize that legal regulations are essential in ensuring OSH is properly enforced. A safe and healthy workplace is a fundamental right for all workers.

Juwita, a law student at Esa Unggul University

Dr. Rian Adi Pamungkas, S.Kep, MNS, PHN, Vice Rector for Research, Development and Innovation at Esa Unggul University, and Prof. Idris Gautama So, S.E., S. Kom., M.M., Ph.D, Secretary of NUNI, warmly embraced the collaboration, highlighting the vital role of linking students with industry professionals to bridge the divide between academic knowledge and practical application. They also underscored the significance of equipping university students with OSH expertise and advocacy skills as a crucial investment in shaping a well-prepared future workforce.

Through engaging interactive sessions, university students examined a range of OSH topics, including its role as a fundamental labour right, the contributions of the ILO tripartite partners—government, employers, and workers' organizations—in strengthening OSH prevention and implementation, the impact of AI-driven workplaces, the existing national OSH regulations as well as the ILO e-OSH Learning for Youth, a free digital platform designed to introduce students to essential OSH principles.

© ILO

© ILO

Zummiyanuran Habibi, Deputy Student Executive Board (BEM) of Esa Unggul University, underscored the significance of the session, stating, "I will continue reminding my fellow students about the importance of this issue. As we transition into the professional world, OSH becomes our shared responsibility, and we must be empowered to raise concerns and advocate for safer, healthier workplaces."

"This session is a perfect 10 out of 10! I've gained valuable insights into the crucial roles that both workers and employers play in strengthening OSH implementation. As a law major, I recognize that legal regulations are essential in ensuring OSH is properly enforced. A safe and healthy workplace is a fundamental right for all workers," shared Juwita, a law student at Esa Unggul University, reflecting on the benefits she gained.

It is important for students like us to have a good understanding about our labour rights to work safely and to know how to do so.

Ranu Ragusti Dunar from BINUS university, majoring in International Relations

Similar benefits were also gained by Ranu Ragusti Dunar from BINUS university, majoring in International Relations and Mizzel Naila Inwan from Padjajaran University, majoring in Agricultural Engineering. “It is important for students like us to have a good understanding about our labour rights to work safely and to know how to do so,” stated Ranu; while Mizzel said: “Most students might not yet aware of the importance of OSH. It is important for us to learn about OSH as the fundamental labour rights of workers to have safe and healthy workplaces.”

These series of activities concluded with the partnership between the ILO and university students to launch a dynamic OSH social media campaign. Through this initiative, selected students—passionate about raising awareness among their peers, families and communities—create engaging video reels based on OSH stories of their choice. The campaign seeks to inspire meaningful discussions and drive greater awareness of OSH issues, encouraging students and those around them to adopt safer practices in everyday life.