The Manpower Coalition had the opportunity to conduct policy talks with the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia and his staff. In addition to introducing the Manpower Coalition to Minister Ida Fauziyah, this time's dialogue also aims to maintain and enhance collaboration between government and non-government, which during the period of Minister Hanif has been going well.
The Labor Coalition was formed in 2016, consisting of several civil society organizations and labor unions at the national and regional levels such as INFID, PRAKARSA, PP Lakpesdam NU, P3M, UNI APRO (Labor Union), IRE Yogyakarta, RUMPUN Malang, IDFoS Bojonegoro, Lakpesdam NU Wonosobo and Swara Nusa Institute Kulon Progo actively produce and share knowledge and advocacy on employment policies.
"Several issues that are of concern to the Labor Coalition include decent-work, vocational training, employment social security, unemployment benefits, increased welfare and worker skills, digital labor and the implementation of SDGs/Sustainable Development Goals Number 8 (inclusive economic growth and decent work). The Labor Coalition uses a collaborative approach (government, private and community organizations) in pushing for changes in regulations, policies and good practices in the field of employment," said Ah Maftuchan, Executive Director PRAKARSA who is also one of the initiators of the Employment Coalition.
Several policy advocacy initiatives carried out by the Manpower Coalition include: (i) regulatory advocacy at the regional level (Perda, Perbup and other regulations) related to vocational training and employment social security in several regions; (ii) advocacy of vocational policy policies at the national level (Vocational Committee, formation of Community BLK and unemployment benefit policies, acceleration of vocational training reform and mainstreaming of employment skills improvement in Indonesia and others; (iii) being actively involved in the process of formulating SDGs indicators and targets / Sustainable Development Goal number 8 (inclusive economic growth and decent work) with the SDGs Secretariat of the Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas.
Some of the knowledge production on employment and vocations that have been introduced by the Manpower Coalition include: (i) Vocational Training Guide for Stakeholders: Indonesian and International Case Studies; (ii) Vocational Training Good Practices in Indonesia: Case Studies of Three BLK Central Government, Local Government and Private Parties; (iii) Vocational Studies in the Industrial Revolution Era: Study of Employment in the Regions; (iv) Decent Work Needs Assessment for Youth and Women.
The Labor Coalition delegation was led by Ah Maftuchan (Executive Director PRAKARSA) and attended by Mrs. Eridhani, Tatat, and Mega from INFID; Herni Ramdlaningrum and Eka Afrina from PRAKARSA; Abdul Waidl from P3M; Kun Wardhana (APRO Union); Muawanah from PP Lakpesdam NU was received directly by Minister Ida Fauziyah along with several echelon I officials from the Ministry of Manpower. The dialogue which lasted for approximately 100 minutes was very constructive and Minister Ida stressed the importance of the role of non-government actors in employment issues. "The door for collaboration at the Ministry of Manpower is very open for the Labor Coalition," concluded Minister Ida.
The Manpower Coalition hopes for the Ministry of Manpower to strengthen collaboration with think-tanks, community organizations, trade unions and academia. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen vocational training best-practices, protect workers both domestically and migrant workers, accelerate labor policy reforms that protect workers, promote an inclusive economic approach in the formulation of the Job Creation Bill and others.
