The second G20 EWG meeting in Yogyakarta on Wednesday (May 11, 2022).(ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Communication and Informatics/kt).
The world of work faces a foundational challenge. The change in work patterns due to the global trend and COVID-19 pandemic drive business players and workers to quickly adapt to the current dynamicsIndonesia pushed for adaptive workers' protection to protect all stakeholders facing the manpower dynamics at the G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) meeting, Secretary-General of the Manpower Ministry Anwar Sanusi stated here on Wednesday.
"The world of work faces a foundational challenge. The change in work patterns due to the global trend and COVID-19 pandemic drive business players and workers to quickly adapt to the current dynamics," Sanusi explained.
Hence, he emphasized that guaranteeing protection for all workers, especially during a difficult period and the economic crisis, was crucial.
Speaking at the second EWG meeting in Yogyakarta on Wednesday, Sanusi stated that the dynamic shift in the labor market had started years ago before the pandemic.
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According to Sanusi, globalization, labor demographic transformation, and the emergence of new technology in industries had changed the demand for labor.
To that end, the policy of adaptive workers' protection is necessary for concrete efforts in protecting all labor from economic turbulence.
"Moreover, protection for all workers is needed to realize proper work for all and prevent unfair actions from employers, especially in a situation when workers have fewer options and offering," Sanusi explained.
He affirmed that the responses to salary, working hours, the K3 aspects (work safety and health), rights to join the union and negotiate, social security, and maternity leave, should be reviewed further.
While addressing G20 member state delegates during the EWG meeting, Sanusi conveyed that inclusive protection for workers was becoming increasingly important on account of the global trends.
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He highlighted that the pandemic had resulted in no socio-economic protection for several informal workers.
"Workers without proper protection have a worser fate than those who have," Sanusi pointed out.
The second G20 EWG meeting in Yogyakarta was scheduled on May 10-12, 2022.
According to its official website, G20 EWG discusses topics on job creation, prevention of employment, creating better jobs, and supporting youth employment and apprenticeship annually.
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