Syahrul Efendi Panjaitan from the Directorate of Productive Age and Elderly Health of the Health Ministry (Kemenkes) made the remarks during a discussion on the benefits of child protection and safeguarding the reproductive function of female workers for business sustainability, which was accessed from Jakarta on Tuesday.
"If there is no control or effort on reproductive health, especially for female workers with special competencies, it will affect the company's production process," he said during the online discussion, which was organized by the Ministry of Manpower.
During the discussion, Panjaitan explained that based on research, companies that invest in workers' health, including reproductive health, gain several benefits, with a threefold increase in productivity, 50 percent lower incidence of injuries, and a fivefold increase in workers’ loyalty.
There is also an increase in customer confidence in the products of companies that care about gender, have positive corporate brand values, minimal employee turnover due to specific health problems, and see a rise in employee productivity, he added.
"Therefore, we can start mapping the condition of female workers and the need for the facility to support reproductive health," Panjaitan disclosed.
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He said that the 2013 and 2018 Basic Health Research data showed that one of the problems experienced by people from the productive age in Indonesia is anemia, with the incidence of anemia in pregnant women increasing from 37.1 percent to 48.9 percent.
This condition will certainly bring an impact on the health of Indonesian women, including female workers, he added.
Panjaitan said that facilities to support the implementation of reproductive health services, such as breastfeeding rooms and clinics, must be provided by companies.
"Companies are obliged to provide them. If they cannot provide them directly, they can cooperate with a third party, but with a commitment contract for reproductive health services to workers," he added.
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Translator: Prisca Triferna V, Resinta S
Editor: Suharto
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