JAKARTA (ILO News): Responsible business practices and corporate social responsibility (CSR) have emerged around the world and in Indonesia as a new business strategy for long-term business sustainability. In Indonesia alone, there are over 200 garment factories that are owned by Korean investors, all supplying the major brands. This probably represents more than 60 per cent of the total number of garment factories in Indonesia supplying the export market. The main companies include Hansae Co., Ltd, Pan-Pacific Co, Ltd and ShinSung TongSang Co. Ltd, each having a number of factories strategically located throughout Java.

To widely promote responsible business practices and CSR across the Korean investors and business community nationwide in Indonesia, the International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the Embassy of Korean and the Indonesian Employers’ Association (APINDO) is going to organize a half-day Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) forum on Wednesday, 4 July, at the Shangrila Hotel, Jakarta. The forum will be officially opened by the Minister of Trade, Gita Irwan Wirjawan, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea for Indonesia, Kim Young Sun, Chair of APINDO, Sofjan Wanandi and Country Director of the ILO in Indonesia, Peter van Rooij.

The forum also marks the joint collaboration between Indonesian and Korean companies through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between APINDO and the Korean Chamber of Commerce (KOCHAM).

The forum brings together more than 100 Korean companies and national business community leaders across Indonesia to further discuss and be more familiar with the guidance provided by global standards compliance and national regulations of Indonesia. The forum also provides a venue for the multinational companies to share experiences on challenges and opportunities faced and to point the way forward in developing sustainable and responsible business practices.

The forum will discuss CSR initiatives, strategies and implementation, highlighting strategies, best practices and recommendations from multinational companies (such as Target and H&M), APINDO as the representative of the national companies, and the Korean companies in Indonesia. “This is a remarkably event for all three parties to agree on the importance of increasing awareness of CSR and its implementation to businessmen in Indonesia. This event allows one step forward to reinforcing CSR activities in both Korean and Indonesian enterprises,” said the ILO’s Country Director, Peter van Rooij.

In addition, as a follow-up to this CSR forum, the ILO has continued its collaboration with the Korean Government and relevant institutions through the ILO/Korea Partnership Programme. The programme is currently assisting the Government of Indonesia in labour related issues and the assessment of labour market impacts of foreign direct assessments.

For further information please contact:

Gita Lingga
ILO’s Communications Officer
Tel.: +6221 391 3112 ext. 115
Email