Indonesian context in 2023 related to social protection and INSP!R network issues

At the end of December 2022, President Joko Widodo issued an emergency regulation on Job Creation to replace the Omnibus Law, with the reason of addressing global recession risks in 2023 and for attracting more foreign investment at the expense of workers’ rights. The Indonesian Unions rejected the new regulation as some provisions in the regulation have given governors discretionary power to determine the minimum wage, affect outsourcing, severance pay, recruitment of foreign workers and criminal sanctions against employers which will impact workers.

Seeing the shrinking of democratic space in the region, many trade unions and civil society organizations are trying to defend and reclaim their democratic space. 

A new Health Law came into force in Indonesia on 8 August 2023. The new law (Law No.17 of 2023 on Health) (Health Law) holds monumental implications for the development and transformation of Indonesia's health care system. The Health Bill not only potentially deprives people of their health rights but also threatens public safety.

WSM was able to initiate and facilitate the creation of a new platform: the Global Union Indonesia Network, to unite the affiliates of the International Trade Union Confederation and Global Federations in Asia with National Trade Unions centres in Indonesia as one of the best practice of building unity. The platform has been successfully placing the controversial Indonesia’ Law on Job Creation on the short list of cases of non-compliance for the ILO Convention nr. 98 on Freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining. The report of the ILO Committee on the Application of Standards concluded that the Job Creation Law is in non-compliance with the ILO C.98 and therefore the ILO CAS recommended the government of Indonesia to reform the Labor Law with focus on the Job Creation Law by having a proper and a time-bound dialogue with the most representative unions in Indonesia. As a lesson learned: with openness and cooperation, we are able to unite in one platform the majority of national trade union centres, including some of the labour NGOs and solidarity support organizations.

Context of 2023 related to social protection and INSP!R Nepal

Nepal's contribution-based social security scheme has been expanded to include workers in the informal economy, migrant and the self-employed. Previously, only workers in the formal sector and migrant workers were permitted to participate in the plan. Administered by the Social Security Fund, the plan covers eight of the nine branches of social security grouped around four key schemes: Medical care, health and maternity benefits scheme; accidental and disability protection scheme; dependent family protection scheme; and old age protection scheme. According to the Social Security Fund, 420,000 workers from the formal sector and 280,000 migrant workers have already enrolled in the contribution-based scheme. Nearly a million Nepalis left the country, including students, in 2023 to look for a better future abroad. The increased number of labour migrants has led to an increase in remittance inflow. But this growing remittance trend should no longer be considered a blessing. It reflects not only the failure of the country to provide for its people but also the waning hopes of the progressive youth. The drop in student numbers has alarmed not only colleges but the education sector as a whole.

Impact of climate change – Nepal’s climate vulnerabilities emerge from a combination of fragile mountainous topography and ecosystems, highly variable monsoon-driven hydrology, unplanned settlements, and a lack of resilient infrastructure. The unusual weather conditions deviating significantly from the reasonably expected is a strong indication of the effects of climate change in Nepal, and globally. A government report shows that 2023 was one of the worst years in Nepal for the environment with more than 5,500 incidents of forest fires. The United Nations Secretary-General’s visit to Nepal and his appeals to the global community for urgent action to protect the mountains and glaciers helped to draw global attention to the catastrophic consequences of climate change for which the country is not responsible. Nepal’s representation in the COP28 meeting and commitments of the government to deal with the impacts of climate change can be also taken as positive developments.

Pathfinder country for the new Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection: to assist with the COVID 19 recovery, the UN launched a Global Accelerator, and Nepal is one of the Pathfinder countries where it will be initiated, which should involve civil society. To create decent jobs, expanding social protection and promote pathways for just transitions, the Global Accelerator will support the Nepali government with national strategies and policies; financing and enhanced multilateral cooperation.