Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Manpower lauded the cooperation established between Indonesia and the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the field of labor, head of the ministry's cooperation bureau, Muhammad Arif Hidayat, said.

"I am sure that under Mr. Peter Van Rooij (director of multilateral partnerships and development cooperation at ILO), the partnership between Indonesia and ILO in the field of labor will continue to grow," Hidayat affirmed in a statement received here on Saturday.

During a bilateral meeting with Van Rooij in Geneva, Switzerland, on Friday (November 3, 2023), Hidayat said that ILO's support to the Manpower Ministry pertains to the implementation of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) for Indonesia 2020–2025.

ILO is also supporting Indonesian workers' industrial relations and social security, labor supervision, and work safety and health (K3) norms.

According to Hidayat, ILO's support for Indonesia also extends to expanding employment opportunities for Indonesians, providing vocational training, devising programs to assist in the just transition towards green economy and green jobs, and empowering local staff for ILO projects.

"We hope this cooperation can continue to grow in the future," he said.

Related news: Indonesia calls for ILO countries to stop forced labor

Earlier, secretary general of the Ministry of Manpower, Anwar Sanusi, said that Indonesia's partnership with ILO would improve the country's employment sector.

"I believe that the cooperation between Indonesia and ILO in the field of manpower will continue to grow," he added.

The bilateral meeting in Geneva between the ministry and ILO was aimed at exchanging views and essential information.

Earlier, ILO's director of the priority action program “Decent work outcomes in supply chains,” Daniel Rees, said that governments have a responsibility and obligation to protect human rights in the business world.

"The government is responsible and obliged to protect human rights through a smart mix of regulatory and non-regulatory measures," Rees observed during an online discussion on September 18.

Related news: Indonesia has come a long way on labour reforms: ILO

Translator: Zubi M, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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