Better Work Indonesia promotes mental health and gender equality for garment industry
Better Work Indonesia (BWI), a joint programme of ILO and IFC, member of World Bank Group conducts a series of knowledge-sharing sessions to promote mental health and gender equality at its participating garment companies during the pandemic COVID-19.
Hanging out with friends, eating out with families, chatting with neighbors and visiting recreation parks are common, affordable pastime for Indonesian garment workers during their days off. However, for the past year and half, the COVID-19 pandemic has stripped these little joys off them—a sacrifice they would have to make to ensure everyone’s safety.
Women garment workers have to maintain physical distances during break
Jimmy Siswanto, Compliance Manager of PT Gaya Indah Kharisma, has been missing a quality, fun time he used to spend with his two-year old grandchild. He aspires to be the one who takes his grandchild vising the Jakarta’s Ragunan Zoo for the first time, introducing a variety of flora and fauna.
“I want some refreshing time with my family, particularly my grandchild, during my days off. Yet, it has to be put off,” told Jimmy. “Even simple dinners with my close neighbors in my apartment complex should be ceased as four families have already got infected. These cause mixed feelings and anxiety.”
A feeling of devastation has also been deeply felt by 32-year old Diah Nela Sari. Working as sewing assistance at garment manufacturer PT Eco Smart Garment Indonesia (ESGI) in Boyolali, Central Java, she had to endure a long distance relationship for ten years with her husband who worked 540 kilometres away in Tangerang, Banten. They finally reunited when her husband lost his job last year.
Isolation, joblessness, child care, lack of life-work balance, longer working hours and many other challenges severely affected the mental well-being of workers. The Ministry of Health data in 2020 revealed that 18,000 people experienced mental disorders, 23,000 suffered from depression and 1,163 attempted suicides."
“I am devastated as we have two children who are still in schools,” she said with shaken voice, recalling the first time she learned about her husband’s layoff.
As her husband still struggles to find a job, as the pandemic has pushed over 2.5 million Indonesians out of their jobs, Diah has to act as the main breadwinner and has to balance work and life responsibilities and obligations.
“We only have one income now and I have to manage daily costs that have been increasing everyday such electricity, water and internet bills,” she shared. Her household spending and workloads have doubled due to work and school from home policies.
The COVID-19 pandemic have affected worker in different ways. Isolation, joblessness, child care, lack of life-work balance, longer working hours and many other challenges severely affected the mental well-being of workers. The Ministry of Health data in 2020 revealed that 18,000 people experienced mental disorders, 23,000 suffered from depression and 1,163 attempted suicides.
Acknowledging the importance of positive mental well-being among garment workers, Better Work Indonesia (BWI) has developed virtual stress management training programme targeted to workers and management of its member factories. Dozens of workers from 64 factories joined the trainings that provide a room for participants to interactively share their feelings and navigate their ways in overcoming stress with an expert. Practical information, tips and exercises to manage emotions were also shared, with a series of videos on them remaining accessible even after the training.
Women have to bear double burdens of being the breadwinner and performing domestic chores with much less wages than their male counterparts. Latest data shows that Indonesian manufacturing workers’ average wage has declined by almost 8 percent, with a gap of over IDR 700,000 (US$48) between men and women.."
In addition, BWI has been pushing for gender equality by intervening in business practices in the global garment supply chain and also in policies and practices at national, regional and global levels, with the belief that should men and women be treated the same, everyone would benefit. Gender inequality has also a profound impact to mental health with women are nearly twice as likely as men to suffer mental illnesses.
Women like Diah have to bear double burdens of being the breadwinner and performing domestic chores with much less wages than their male counterparts. Latest data shows that Indonesian manufacturing workers’ average wage has declined by almost 8 percent, with a gap of over IDR 700,000 (US$48) between men and women. This is because women tend to be employed in low-skilled, low-value occupations that are further perpetuated by negative cultural and gender norms commonly found in the garment industry’s recruitment and employment processes.
“We make the best use of social media to reach out to more workers on issues related to mental health and gender equality. Through series of live sessions, we interactively discuss with our BWI’s participating companies a range of topics from stress management, parenting, life-work balance to wages and THR payment as well as gender-based violence,” said Pipit Savitri, Communication & Partnerships Officer of BWI.
