Since officially assuming her duties in Jakarta in mid-February 2024 as the new Director for the ILO Country Office for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Simrin Singh has conducted a series of courtesy meetings with the ILO’s tripartite constituents—the Ministry of Manpower, the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo) and six trade union confederations— as well as with other key Ministries.

The courtesy meeting with the Minister of Manpower, Ida Fauziyah, was conducted at the Ministry of Manpower Office on 22 February. Minister Ida accompanied by Anwar Sanusi, Secretary General, Diah Anggoro Putri, Director General for Industrial Relations and Social Protection and Arif Hidayat, Head of International Relations Bureau highlighted Indonesia’s commitment towards the realization of the Decent Work Country Programme (2020-2025) and how it is situated in Indonesia’s national development strategy.

In addition, youth employment, MSME led job growth, sound social dialogue, safe labour migration, increasing women’s labour force participation, workforce skilling, were amongst the many items covered in this rich initial discussion.

The meeting with the Chairperson of Apindo, Shinta Widjaja Kamdani and her team that included Bob Azam, Deputy for Employment Affairs, Myra Hanartani, Head of Regulation and Institution Committee, and Catharina Widjaja, Head of International Relations was held on 25 February. The meeting highlighted various issues related to investment growth and human capital development. The meeting also touched upon the demographic bonus, skills development, SMEs, responsible business conduct and human rights.

The courtesy meeting with leaders and representatives of six trade union confederations was held on 26 February at the ILO Jakarta Office. Around ten representatives of the trade unions attended the meeting, sharing valuable insights on decent work issues in the country. The trade unions emphasized the importance of skills development for the future of work, social protection and its extended coverage to the informal sector, labour inspection and the primacy of sound social dialogue.

In addition to meetings with ILO’s tripartite constituents who are signatories of the current Decent Work Country Programme, the ILO Country Director Simrin also paid courtesy calls to Deputy Minister for Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy for Population and Employment as well as Director of Employment of the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas).

Initial introductions and rich interactions with the Deputy Minister for Digital Economy, Employment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Deputy for Coordination of Education Quality Improvement and Religious Moderation of the Coordinating Ministry on Human Development and Culture also took place.