Indonesian mass media take actions to free the world of work from violence and harassment

The ILO in collaboration with the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) Indonesia jointly published a publication titled “Safe Environment to Work”, consisting of in-depth journalistic reporting from across Indonesia on various workplace violence and harassment occurred in various sectoral industries. The publication was the result of series of media engagement activities to promote the ratification of the ILO Convention No. 190 (C190) on violence and harassment at work.

The publication was part of the ILO-AJI Indonesia media fellowship programme where 10 journalists from across Indonesia were selected to be mentored by senior media professionals to produce and publish a series of in-depth articles related to workplace violence and harassment. The programme aimed to engage and support journalists and media professionals in promoting and delivering quality reporting on workplace violence and harassment.

The ILO greatly appreciates the involvement of media organizations in efforts to raise public awareness and to advocate C190."

Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia

Maratun Nashihah, a journalist from Suara Merdeka, a leading media in Semarang, Central Java, wrote about the plight of garment workers, dominated by women workers, in dealing with violence and harassment. The reporting highlighted the fight to break the silence against “common” act of harassment and violence in the form of body touching, catcalling, abusive orders and so forth.

Not only women, men were also vulnerable to violence and harassment as reported by Muhammad Nasir, a journalist from Serambi Indonesia, a leading newspaper from Aceh Province. He reported the traumatic experiences endured by men migrant workers from Aceh working in Malaysia’s palm oil plantation. Just like any other violence victims, they also tended to hide the incidents.

Meanwhile, from the easternmost part of the country, Papua, Putri N. Kuria, a journalist from Papuaunik.com, shared a life story of an emerging digital occupation—women online drivers. They are vulnerable to physical and verbal harassment from both their male fellow drivers and customers. However, due to lack of digital employment regulation, they do not know where to report.

Michiko Miyamoto, ILO Country Director for Indonesia, stated that the publication was part of the ILO’s commitment to create safe workplaces. “The ILO greatly appreciates the involvement of media organizations in efforts to raise public awareness and to advocate C190. The publication can be used as a reference to support the development of regulations and guidelines needed,” she stated.

As part of its global campaign the ILO is now promoting the ratification and implementation of C190 by inviting the participation of all its member States and the public at large. C190 is the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment.