In the road map, we want to encourage tripartite cooperation between the Indonesian and Swiss governments, business actors, as well as trade unions.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Manpower Ministry and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs have signed an amendment to a labor and employment memorandum of understanding (MoU) to bolster the cooperation of the two countries in the sector.

The document was signed by Secretary General of the Indonesian Manpower Ministry Anwar Sanusi and Head of the Labor Directorate of State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of Switzerland Boris Zurcher.

"We agreed to amend the MoU, thus the two countries can carry out the proposed activities to respond to the global changes and dynamics in the workforce sector," Sanusi said in a statement received here Friday.

The amendment to the MoU includes tripartite cooperation as well as potential bilateral collaboration in various programs contained in the 2023–2024 cooperation road map of the two countries, he added.

"In the road map, we want to encourage tripartite cooperation between the Indonesian and Swiss governments, business actors, as well as trade unions," the Indonesian official added after attending the 3rd Indonesia-Switzerland Joint Working Group meeting.

The governments of Indonesia and Switzerland have set three priorities in the amendments to the MoU, namely social dialogue, productivity and decent work, as well as economic development cooperation, he said.

Regarding the social dialogue, the two governments have agreed to increase the role of trade unions and employer associations, which are called social partners, in the formulation of labor, organization, and representation policies.

In addition, the governments have agreed to increase the capacity and ability of those social partners in carrying out negotiation, mediation, and reconciliation to resolve any labor issue.

Furthermore, in relation to productivity and decent work, the governments will focus on improving business productivity and sustainability.

"We want to develop a framework which ensures the labor market functions properly, improves employment service centers, as well as initiates skill improvement programs, thus people can adapt to the dynamics of the employment sector," Sanusi informed.

Meanwhile, regarding economic development cooperation, the governments of the two countries will develop programs that create wider and more sustainable employment opportunities so that business actors can increase their competitiveness on the international stage, he said.

Both countries have also agreed to strengthen cooperation in supporting the improvement of working conditions in the palm oil industry through the Indonesia Sustainable Landscapes Management Program (SLMP), he added.

The meeting also discussed the protection for digital and gig workers, vocational training collaboration, professional labor exchanges, as well as economic cooperation development in the garment sectors.

Initially, the MoU was scheduled to expire in June 2024. However, Indonesia and Switzerland have agreed to renew and extend the MoU.

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Translator: Zubi Mahrofi, Uyu Liman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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