JAKARTA (Joint Press Release) – The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Never Okay Project are going to launch the findings of the workers’ survey on violence and harassment at work on Wednesday, 28 September, at the Le Meridien Hotel in Jakarta. The survey is part of the joint campaign to raise Indonesian workers’ awareness regarding this issue and to promote the ratification of the ILO Convention No. 190 as the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work free from violence and harassment.

Conducted online for one month from 12 August to 13 September 2022, the survey aims to document knowledge and experiences of violence and harassment of both victims and witnesses within the period of two years (2020-2022) and to map vulnerability factors of Indonesian workers to violence and harassment at work. The survey also aims to identify recommendations for improving actions taken in responding to cases of violence and harassment at work.

A total of 1,173 respondents participated in the survey and the result shows that 70.93% percent of respondents have experienced or have become a victim of one of the forms of violence and harassment at work. The survey also reveals that the incidents of violence and harassment do not only happen at the offices or workplaces, but also occur online (39.06%). Working from home or working outside the office is not necessarily making workers safer from workplace violence and harassment.

To further discuss and examine the key findings of the survey, an interactive talk show titled “Semua Bisa Kena” will be conducted as part of the launch, presenting key resource persons from business, gender activists and digital advocate: Maya Juwita, Executive Director of the Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE), Hannah Al Rasid, Actor and Campaigner for Gender Equality, and Nenden S. Arum, Head of the Freedom of Expression Division of the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet). They are going to further share their insights and experiences in dealing with various issues related to violence and harassment at work.

“The survey is part of the ILO global and national campaign to promote the ratification of the ILO Convention No. 190 as the Convention making this problem more visible and providing a clear framework with specific measures to address this problem. The Convention has also made free from violence and harassment at work as a labour right like any other labour rights such as wages, working conditions, working hours, social protection and so forth. It is time we have to take speak up and take action against violence and harassment in the world of work,” said Michiko Miyamoto, Country Director of the ILO for Indonesia.

“No one is immune to violence and harassment at work and it can happen to anyone. Violence and harassment negatively impact both victims and witnesses personally and professionally, making them demotivated and losing their concentration at work which can lead to other severe impacts such as losing their jobs, depression and so forth,” said Alvin Nicola, Initiator of Never Okay Project.

The survey is part of the series of activities that are conducted by the ILO and the Never Okay Project. In addition to the social media campaigns and awareness-raising activities, the activities include the petition to support the world of work free from violence and harassment: change.org/lawanpredatorduniakerja

For further information please contact:

Dyah Retno Sudarto
Programme Coordinator for Work Violence and Harassment
Email: dyah@ilo.org

Gita Lingga
Communications Officer
Email: gita@ilo.org