Jakarta, November 25-27, 2023
The garment sector, dominated by female workers, unfortunately often exposes women to various forms of gender-based violence, ranging from discrimination and harassment to economic exploitation. This gender-based violence is deeply rooted in the garment industry's production system, particularly with high export targets. The 2022 DecentWorkCheck survey found that 1 in 20 workers reported cases of sexual harassment in the workplace, only scratching the surface of the broader challenges related to maternity rights violations affecting the lives of female workers and their families.
Against this backdrop, the Makin Terang team organized the Women Workers' Academy in Jakarta from November 25-27, 2023. Attended by 28 female representatives from SP/SB across 15 factories in DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, and Central Java, this workshop offered a captivating experience, culminating in a joint session with the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) on the final day.
Day One, November 25, 2023
The first day commenced with introductions and an agreement on training norms. Kamalia from TURC led participants into group reflections on their life experiences as women, using the metaphor of the 'river of life.' Like a river's flow, a woman encounters positive and negative experiences throughout her life. These experiences shape a woman's resilience, vividly illustrated by participants depicting their journeys as women in family, workplace, and society, encompassing vulnerabilities and resistance.
Continuing the life cycle reflection, Dian Septi (activist and labour expert) facilitated a discussion on work, social reproduction, and household labour division. Dian initiated the conversation by addressing the distinctions between sex and gender. She explained how assumptions about others can perpetuate injustice, including gender, sexuality, and (dis)ability-based injustice. The discussion delved into work, the production process, and social reproduction, highlighting their heavy dependence on capitalist society's foundations. Here, reproductive work is often overlooked, undervalued, and underappreciated.
At the end of the first day, participants were introduced to the 2017 documentary "Angka Jadi Suara" documenting the findings of a research project by the Cross-Factory Labor Federation (FBLP) in the Nusantara Bonded Zone in Cakung, North Jakarta. The film showcased that 25 female workers in 15 factories experienced sexual harassment in various forms. After the screening, participants identified the victims and the perpetrators, recorded forms of violence, and initiated actions or campaigns.
Day Two, November 26, 2023
Day two began with a review of the first day's discussions. Following this, Asfinawati, a human rights lawyer and current leader at the Indonesia Jentera Law School, facilitated a session on Equality, Non-Discrimination, and the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the workplace.
Asfin initiated the session with a simulation involving all participants. Each participant was assigned different professions and positions. Despite starting from the same point, those who advanced were naturally individuals with powerful positions and access to authority. This vividly depicted societal structures where one's profession and status significantly influence one's conditions. Asfin emphasized the need for different treatments for various occupations and positions to achieve justice, as encapsulated in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on Violence and Harassment in the World of Work.
Following an exploration of gender discrimination and injustice, participants were guided to understand the conditions of gender-based violence in the garment sector through an introduction to the Gajimu website. Fitria from Gajimu, alongside other co-facilitators, assisted participants in accessing various articles and data from surveys, providing specific insights into the 2022 DecentWorkCheck survey related to Gender-Based Violence in the Workplace.
In group workshops, participants worked collaboratively to map various gender-based violence issues in their workplaces. Discussions uncovered forms of gender-based violence, including discrimination, violations of reproductive health and maternity rights, physical and non-physical harassment and violence, as well as economic violence.
Participants also compiled advocacy efforts by their trade unions, such as legal reporting of perpetrators, advocating for sanctions and protection, policy advocacy through joint negotiations, local regulation advocacy, and involvement of brands/buyers to drive improvements.
Recognizing that workplace gender-based violence is a structural issue requiring more significant resources and authority, the participants sought to bring this data and information through an audience with Komnas Perempuan. This avenue was chosen to hold the state accountable for the elimination of gender-based violence in the workplace. To prepare for the audience, participants, with facilitator assistance, successfully crafted a joint statement with eight recommendations to the state.
Having successfully formulated the Statement of Attitude to Komnas Perempuan, participants prepared for the technical aspects of the audience, dividing tasks and roles as spokespersons, responders, and contacts.
Day Three, November 27, 2023
The participants met with Komnas Perempuan on the third day at their office in Menteng, Central Jakarta. Participants were warmly welcomed by Commissioner Satyawanti Mashudi, accompanied by the women's team and the Complaints Referral Unit. Satyawanti, head of the women workers' team and a reproduction health expert, greeted all participants and briefly explained Komnas Perempuan and its tasks. Subsequently, spokespersons Nurul Huda, Mifta, Restu, Erni, and Nisa read the joint statement to Komnas Perempuan, sparking a discussion and Q&A session between Komnas Perempuan and the participants.
Topics of discussion included:
- Gender-based violence data from the Makin Terang program
- Sexual Violence Criminal Act and its regulations
- Minister of Manpower Regulation No. 88 of 2023 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in the Workplace
- Task Force and Workers' Protection House (RP3) in industrial zones
- Setbacks in menstrual leave protection and maternity rights, as well as poor work targets and conditions, contribute to gender-based violence in the workplace.
In conclusion, Komnas Perempuan committed to monitoring various recommendations from participants and using their data and information to supplement the ongoing Komnas Perempuan report.
Participants regrouped to evaluate their collective efforts with Komnas Perempuan. Participants acknowledged that the audience provided valuable experiences and lessons as women members of trade unions. The Women Workers' Academy concluded with a feedback form-filling session and a group photo.
Read more:
FAQ Makin Terang Programme
Gender-Responsive CBA Workshop in Cirebon
Gender-Responsive CBA Workshop in Banten
Gender-Responsive CBA Workshop in Yogyakarta
Data-Driven Advocacy Workshop in West Java
Data-Driven Advocacy Workshop in Central Java
Training of Trainers for Data-Driven Advocacy in Jakarta
Interviewer Workshop, April 2023
Strategic Meeting, November 2023