The agriculture sector continues to be the major economic driver in Indonesia’s rural economy. While many sectors in the Indonesian economy witnessed severe economic slowdown due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the agriculture sector recorded growth in 2020-21. The sector contributes to 30 percent of employment for Indonesia.

To improve rural working condition and labour compliance in the country during and beyond the pandemic, the ILO conducted a Virtual Academy titled “Promoting Decent Work in Human-Centred Recovery to the COVID-19 Crisis in Indonesia’s Agriculture Sector”, from 28th July-12 August 2021. Around 100 participants participated in the Virtual Academy to learn and share a range of innovative approaches, tools and methods towards a human-centred recovery to the COVID-19 crisis.

Adriani, Mediator Director of the Manpower Ministry, greatly welcomed the Virtual Academy to strengthen national efforts to realize decent work in agriculture sector, particularly during and beyond the pandemic. “The new Omnibus Law has accommodated employment regulations, including for rural employment that applies to different employment patterns and wage systems. Therefore, the Ministry of Manpower has focused on development of human resources and the understanding of employment regulations by promoting social dialogues between workers and employers,” she said.



Alette Van Leur, ILO’s Director of Sectoral Policy Department, emphasized the Global Call of Action adopted by the ILO’s International Labour Conference in June 2021, which highlighted a call to action for human-centred recovery from COVID-19 crisis that should be inclusive. Sustainable and resilient. “Rural development should become the priority and the ILO play a key role in building the capacities of its constituents as reflected by this Virtual Academy by providing deep understanding about principles of decent work and tools to realize it,” she said.

The Virtual Academy utilized three main ILO’s modules covering issues on decent work in rural economy, policies for decent work in the rural economy and a just transition towards resilient, and sustainable rural economy. In addition to the modules, the Virtual Academy presented a series of panel discussions as well as masterclasses where the participants could interact with national and international experts, governmental representatives and practitioners. During these virtual sessions, the participants also had the opportunities to discussed in-depth practical strategies to promote fundamental labour rights and decent work.

Issues covered during the 10-day Virtual Academy also included mainstreaming youth and women in rural development policies, women empowerment in rural economy, gender equality, elimination of child labour and forced labour, effective industrial relations in rural economy, including the promotion of social dialogue and voices for the workers, the establishment of preventive culture of occupational safety and health (OSH), social protection in rural economy and building sustainable supply chains through labour law compliance.

Based on what they learnt during the Virtual Academy, participants concluded with the development of recommendations to strengthen social dialogue and promote decent work in their area and rural community. The participants would also continue sharing good practices to strengthen their efforts.

Felicitas Sri Purwani, one of the participants from Yayasan Penabulu, appreciated the compacted materials presented and given by the Virtual Academy on various fundamental labour rights through various practical examples. “The examples given have inspired the participants, including me, to think about what we can do when we come back to our institutions and communities and help us achieving decent work in rural economy amid and, even beyond, the pandemic,” she said.

Similarly, Tri Djatiningsih, a labour inspector from West Kalimantan, noted that the Virtual Academy’s materials provided numerous interesting and practical experiences that could help strengthening her role as a labour inspector. “I hope that I can make the best use of this useful information to enhance my role and function as labour inspector dealing with rural development and issues,” she shared.

The Virtual Academy was conducted by the ILO through its Advancing Workers' Rights in Indonesia's Palm Oil Sector. The overall objective of the project is to ensure that Indonesian unions in the palm oil supply chain effectively advocate for their members’ access to fundamental workers’ rights, in particular freedom of association and collective bargaining.