Yogyakarta, November 6-8, 2023
The first year of the Makin Terang Programme, an initiative to improve work and worker representation in Indonesia, is nearing its end in late 2023. To reflect on all activities and plan for the future programme, the global team consisting of Gajimu.com, WageIndicator Foundation, Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC), and FNV Mondiaal held a strategic meeting on November 6-8, 2023, in Yogyakarta.
During the reflection session, all participants agreed that improving decent working conditions for the programme would not be achieved without protecting workers' rights to unionise. Generally, this was evidenced by the Decent Work Check survey results in unionised factories, which showed greater compliance with normative laws than non-unionised factories. Similarly, the collective power of workers through negotiations with companies would never be achieved without realising the right to organise.
To clarify the indicators of fulfilling the right to organise, participants in the strategic meeting agreed on several parameters: independent and affiliated with a broader network, prioritising member participation, especially women's membership, and negotiating freely and in good faith.
Based on these indicators, the Makin Terang programme team noted the presence of some non-affiliated unions (SPTP) that did not fully meet the above requirements. In some places, they even became tools to weaken the collective power of workers.
Another reflection was on the gender-responsive paradigm through the involvement of women and young workers responsive to developments, especially in digital technology. This is believed to create more sustainable trade unions, more awareness of gender justice, and a capability to quickly adapt to digital technology.
Therefore, the capacity-building of trade unions starts with ensuring the freedom to unionise. In the process toward this goal, data from the Decent Work Check Survey, Workers' Priority Polls, Collective Agreement Reports, and Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) Database were developed to be used to the fullest.
In addition to strengthening at the grassroots level, the Makin Terang team also strives to urge brands/buyers to reinforce the implementation of freedom to unionize in their value chains. This effort is made in collaboration with initiatives, programmes, or organizations with similar goals.
In these three days of the meeting, the Makin Terang team also successfully redefined its activities, considering the goals, background, and dynamics. With the spirit of continuous improvement, the programme is expected to be adopted and continued by partner trade unions and expanded to other industrial sectors beyond textiles, garments, shoes and leather (TGSL).
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