The ILO has maintained and developed a system of international labour standards (ILS) since its establishment in 1919, aimed to promote opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work, in conditions of freedom, equity, security and dignity. The ILS, as universal instruments, has been adopted by the international community and reflecting common values and principles on work-related issues.

The ILO has also recently adopted a new resolution to include occupational safety and health (OSH) as the fifth category of its Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work during the 110th International Labour Conference (ILC) in June 2022, in addition to the existing four categories on the freedom of association and collective bargaining, elimination of all forms of forced labour, the effective abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Against this background, based on the request from the Ministry of Manpower (MoM), the ILO conducted a one-day capacity building workshop on the ILS reporting on 21 February in Jakarta. The workshop provided a venue for the MoM’s new staff in charge for ILS reporting to learn and get updated on ILS and its supervisory mechanism. The workshop was also aimed to increase the commitment of MoM for the ratification of the ILS and to provide an assistance in responding to the General Survey on Labour Administration Convention (No. 150) and its Recommendation No. 158.

“It is an obligation of the member States, including Indonesia which has been enrolled as a member of the ILO since 1950, to report at regular intervals on measures they have taken for the Conventions that have been ratified by Indonesia. The report also indicates any obstacles which have prevented or delayed the ratification of a particular convention,” explained Lusiani Julia, ILO’s Programme Officer who was also acted as a facilitator of the workshop.

Attended by around 25 staff of MoM, the workshop presented the ILO’s International Labour Standards and Labour Law Specialist, Jajoun Coue. He explained regarding issues related to the following: the ILO’s Standard Review Mechanism, the Member States’ Reporting Obligation, and the Labour Administration Convention No. 150.

The explanatory session was followed by a practical session. During this session, participants were divided into five groups to discuss about the reporting system of the ILO fundamental rights, of which the first four categories have been ratified by Indonesia except for the fifth category on OSH.

Harsa from Bureau of International Cooperation of MoM presented the ILO’s Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and the Protection of the Right to Organize and No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining. “Indonesia has first ratified the Convention No. 98 in 1957 and 41 years later in 1998, we ratify the Convention No. 87. The next reporting period for these two Conventions is next year in 2024,” he said.

The workshop was continued with the explanatory session regarding the promotion of the ratification, among others, such as the ILO Convention Nos. 155 and 187 on OSH, No. 102 on Social Protection (Standard Minimum) and No. 188 on Work in Fishing. The ILO’s Programme Officer for OSH, Abdul Hakim highlights the benefits to ratify these Conventions as resilient OSH system is found to be effective in combating crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic and in sustaining businesses.

Christianus Panjaitan, the ILO’s Project Officer for Social Protection, emphasized the linkage between the progress made by Indonesia in modernizing and transforming its social protection system with the ILO Convention No. 102; meanwhile, Albert Bonasahat, the ILO’s Project Officer for Ship to Shore, underscored the importance of ILO Convention No. 188 for a maritime country like Indonesia.

In addition, Early Dewi Nuriana, the ILO’s Programme Officer for HIV/AIDS and Care at Work, introduced Conventions related to care economy: the ILO Convention No. 156 on Workers with Family responsibilities and the Convention No.183 on Maternity Protection and Lusiani presented the importance for Indonesia to ratify the ILO Convention No. 189 on Domestic Workers and No.190 on Violence and Harassment.

“Today’s workshop is only the beginning of the regular reviews. The ILO and MoM has agreed to conduct annual regular review on the implementation and the ratification prospect of the ILO Convention in the country,” concluded Lusiani