ILO and three trade union federations on garment sector launch grievance applications for Indonesian garment workers

JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) is launching a grievance application for garment workers on 26 May in Jakarta. The ILO through its Strengthening Industrial Relations in Indonesia (SIRI) project has developed this grievance application in partnership with the National Trade Union (SPN), the Garment and Textile Trade Union Federation (Garteks) and the Textile, Garment and Leather Trade Union Federation (FSP-TSK).

These three federations are part of the national trade union confederations. The SPN is affiliated to the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Union (KSPI), while Garteks to the Confederation of All Trade Union (KSBSI) and FSP-TSK to the Confederation of All Indonesian Trade Union (KSPSI).

Using the same foundation of the grievance mechanism application, the ILO’s SIRI project has developed an exclusive application for each federation applying and tailoring their own unique identity and specific needs. The applications are named SoPaN SPN, Teman Garteks and Hallo Siola.

These applications are officially launched by Elly Rosita Silaban, President of KSBSI, Andi Gani Nana Wea, President of KSPSI, Said Iqbal, President of KSPI, represented by Ramidi, Secretary General, through a video message and Simrin Singh, Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The launch ceremony is followed by live demonstration of these applications.  

These applications are created to facilitate the flow of complaints and the submission of aspirations from the federations’ members and/or non-members. The applications are simple and easy to access. Once the application is downloaded from Google Play for free, the users can simply fill in the general information to create an account. Afterward, they can easily report their complaints and/or convey their aspirations by filling out the provided forms and necessary supporting evidence in the forms of photos, videos and documents.

The submitted complaints or aspirations would be reviewed and verified by the union administrators who would take necessary actions including negotiation and mediation actions with the management for win-win solutions. These follow up actions are aspired to make working environment more productive and better.

Noting the importance of the grievance application for developing harmonious industrial relations in Indonesia, Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, said, ”Effective grievance mechanisms are essential for resolving conflicts through dialogues and negotiations and for promoting a conducive working environment for sustainable businesses. Therefore, these grievance applications demonstrate the continuous support of the ILO to ensure the realization of labour rights as part of the elements of decent work such as decent working hours, social protection, occupational safety and health (OSH), wages and so forth.”

Meanwhile, Elly Rosita Silaban, President of KSBSI, hoped that these applications could be replicated to other sectors and could also widely involve other confederations and federations. “This innovative application is important for Indonesian workers as this can be accessed by workers nationwide and since the application also maintains workers’ confidentiality, this application can strongly encourage workers to speak up and fight for their labour rights,” she said.

In addition, Andi Gani Nana Wea, President of KSPSI, stated that the application is a complimentary of a recently established Special Employment Crime Unit on Labour and Employment Disputes by the Indonesian Police.  

To date, the ILO’s SIRI Project has trained a total of 477 union administrators from the three federations to equip them with skills needed to provide adequate services in handling cases and aspirations from members and non-members.

Funded by the Canadian Government, the ILO’s SIRI Project aims to build the capacity of garment sector workers and their representatives to effectively organize and represent all workers in Indonesia’s garment sector. and participate more actively and inclusively in key national policy advocacy.

For more information, please contact:
Nurus M. Mufidah   
ILO’s Coordinator of SIRI Project in Indonesia
mufidah@ilo.org 

Gita F. Lingga  
Senior Communications and Information Management Assistant
gita@ilo.org