Focus Group Discussion “Study Results of The Covid-19 Factory Survey ”
5 May 2021
Focus Group Discussion “Study Results of The Covid-19 Factory Survey ” organized by Gajimu Indonesia and TURC on May 5, 2021. This FGD discussed the results of the second of Covid-19 factory surveys which have been completed since 11 May 2020 – 2 July 2020. It is attended by the Data Academy’s Trade Unions partners Leaders.
Data Academy conducted a survey to monitor the labor situation during the Covid-19 pandemic that involved workers, members of Trade Union, and management in 133 factories of Textile, Garment, Footwear and Leather (TGSL) industries. The factories are located in 18 Regencies/Cities in 5 Provinces and part of Data Academy TU partners, namely SPN, FSP-TSK SPSI, TSK KSPSI and FSB Garteks.
The FGD started with the delivery of survey results and survey analysis by Nadia Pralita, Gajimu Indonesia Project Manager and Didit Saleh, Data Academy’s Program Manager from Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC). Both explained that the impact of the pandemic on business resulted in nearly 90% of factory orders declining for both domestic and foreign capital companies in Indonesia.
However, compared to the first wave, the survey shows that the factories’ conditions are getting better in the second wave of surveys. It was recorded that 19 factories surveyed in the first wave were closed and in the second wave only 5 factories were closed. In addition, there is a trend of re-hiring of workers affected by layoffs by the company even though workers are recruited on a contract system. Likewise, a number of companies have developed a survival strategy by switching production to make masks or Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) so that they have succeeded in increasing their production. In line with the results of the Covid-19 factory survey, a number of data from various institutions, including Bank Indonesia, describe the garment and footwear sector are starting to improve in 2021.
Even though it has improved, FGD participants conveyed the fact that reductions in working hours, reductions in wages, and layoffs are still happening. Not all of the companies that closed went bankrupt because some of them eventually moved to another area with looser labor regulations. Likewise, facing the Eid al-Fitr holiday which will soon, it is known that many factories are paying their workers' Allowance Holiday (THR) gradually.
Following up on the FGD, participants developed a plan to socialize and use the survey results to find solutions together to maintain and even improve workers' rights during the Covid-19 pandemic. Participants also agreed to collect data on THR violations as well as wage subsidy assistance from the Government for the TGSL sector to be submitted to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia (ORI), considering that this institution has the authority to oversee the implementation of public services and currently opens a post for complaints on violations of THR payments.
Interested in taking your Gajimu survey? Or do you want to join Data Academy training? Contact the Data Academy team at gajimu@wageindicator.org to find out more about the terms and conditions