ILO and METI co-host dialogue event on RBC in Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta (ILO News) – On 18 September 2023, the ILO and METI co-hosted a dialogue event promoting business and human rights, titled Responsible Business, Human Rights and Decent Work in Asia: Harnessing synergies between human rights and inclusive growth, which attracted more than 220 participants, in-person and online, from various partners including governments and workers’ and employers’ organisations from Asian countries as well as the G7 members. As economic globalisation demands companies are expected to respect human rights including workers’ rights in accordance with international standards, the event fostered recognition among partner countries that social dialogues between the constituents and other stakeholders can create synergies between economic growth and respect for human rights.

The event started with a video message from Mr Shin Hosaka, Vice-Minister for International Affairs, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan—the co-organiser of the event and a contributor of funds to the ILO projects. Mr Hosaka gave an example of human rights efforts promoted by the Japanese government, the Guidelines on Respecting Human Rights in Responsible Supply Chains, which the ILO helped formulate in September 2022. He also referred to discussions at the recent G7 Hiroshima Summit, saying, “we intend to strengthen international cooperation and collective efforts towards ensuring respect for human rights and international labour standards in business activities, as well as enhancing predictability for businesses” .

Representing the host country, Indonesia, Mr Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs (delivered on his behalf by Mr Rudy Salahuddin, Deputy Minister for Digital Economy, Manpower, and SMEs) also gave a video message where he mentioned that Indonesia was preparing a Presidential Regulation concerning the National Strategy for Business and Human Rights. The Minister welcomed discussion and cooperation regarding promotion of human rights and international labour standards in business conduct, hoping they “will not stop at this forum, or in the Asian region, but will also involve other regions, including G7 member countries.”

Then Ms Pichamon Yeophantong, Member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, and Mr Dan Rees, Director, Supply Chain Action Programme, ILO, delivered Keynote speeches. “Human rights at work are first and foremost a moral and legal obligation, and the evidence shows that promoting human rights is also good for business,” said Mr Rees. “The argument for placing human rights at the centre of strategies to achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development is clear.”

The three plenary sessions showcased various regional or national approaches for RBC, schemes for skills development, and RBC initiatives at the enterprise level. In the breakout session, the ILO constituents in their respective groups (governments, workers, and employers) discussed challenges, opportunities and the need for collaboration to further promote respect for human rights and inclusive growth.

Fact sheet on the event is now available (Updated on 19 December 2023).