JAKARTA (ILO News) — In the maritime industry, working as seafarers on board a ship is traditionally a profession dominated by men. Leaders of academic and research institutions in Indonesia have recently expressed their support for addressing this global issue by opening up more opportunities to seafaring education and employment for Indonesian women.
The distinguished academics and scientists expressed their views at a webinar entitled Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment to Prepare Youth Generation in a Diversity of Professions and Organizations. The event was conducted via ZOOM on 19 February 2021 by Indonesia’s State Maritime Polytechnic (PoliMarin).
PoliMarin is one of the four polytechnics that the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Skills for Prosperity Programme in Indonesia (SfP-Indonesia) has partnered with to improve their curricula and pedagogy. It is part of the programme’s mission to improve the country’s skills development policies and systems and enhance employability and future-readiness of young women and men, including those from disadvantaged groups aspiring to pursue and advance careers in the maritime industry.
Sri Tutie Rahayu, Director of PoliMarin, told participants at the webinar that gender equality is an issue that has been increasingly prioritised by industry, companies and governments around the world.
“Today there are many companies throughout the world with a more inclusive culture with a gender-equal workplace,” she said.
Capt Lely Farida Mahadi, Secretary General of the Nawacita Research Institute-Maritime Committee, pointed out the need for “affirmative actions” to optimise women’s empowerment in the maritime industry and open up job opportunities for Indonesian women who aspire to become seafarers.
The placement of more than one female seafarer will improve safety of women working on board a ship from violence and harassment."
Capt Lely Farida Mahadi, Secretary General of the Nawacita Research Institute-Maritime Committee
“The placement of more than one female seafarer will improve safety of women working on board a ship from violence and harassment,” she said. To achieve this, there is a need for policy support from the shipping industry, she said.
Under the Implementation Agreement signed in January 2021, SfP-Indonesia works with PoliMarin to enhance quality and relevance in the field of seafaring engineering education, preparing students for local and global employment on passenger ships, container ships and oil and LNG tankers.
SfP-Indonesia engages international academic and industry partners to convert PoliMarin’s three-year curricula to a four-year study programme that is based on International Maritime Organisation (IMO) standards.
Additionally, the programme mainstreams gender issues within skills development and the maritime sector. In doing so, SfP-Indonesia works with students, teachers and employers to promote improved working conditions, particularly in reference to occupational health and safety and the elimination of violence and harassment at the workplace.
Mary Kent, SfP-Indonesia Chief Technical Advisor, said gender disparity is a global issue, pointing out that more than 1 billion ¬¬– 64% of girls and women under 24 – lack the key skills they need for life and work.
“This is an injustice for individuals, but also deprives society from the important skills that women can bring to the labour market,” said Ms Kent.
“In Indonesia, we see gender inequality through much higher levels of female youth unemployment, a wide gender pay gap, and a low representation of women in management and leadership roles,” she added.
The event was attended by 180 participants from PoliMarin, the PoliMarin alumni, the ILO, the Forum for the Directors of State Polytechnics throughout Indonesia (FDPNI) and PoliMarin’s industry partners. Academicians throughout Indonesia and members of the public also participated in the webinar.
Maryke Alelo, Director of PoliManado, emphasised that education has a very important role in helping women's lives and achieving equality.
“Education will open up women’s view to fight for their rights”, she said.
