The story of Melati
This is the story of Melati* - a young garment worker in Indonesia - who, supported by her local trade union, fought against sexual harassment in the workplace. Follow this storytelling presentation to understand the impact of collective action in addressing gender-based violence.
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains depictions of sexual harassment.
*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.
Melati’s story takes place in Jakarata, the capital city of Indonesia. The textile and garment sector in Indonesia accounts for 11% of manufacturing exports and employs some 4.3 million people. The sector has continued to be an essential source of formal employment for Indonesian women, who represent 82% of the total workforce in 2017.
Jakarta, Indonesia. The city where Melati lives and works as a garment worker.
Even though the majority of the workers within the Indonesian textile and garment workforce are women, they remain those imposed with worse working conditions. They are concentrated in low pay and low power positions compared to their male counterparts.
Pictured: Statistics highlighting the reality of working as a woman in the global textiles and garment industry.
Violence and harassment in the garment sector is a prevalent and persistent issue. Many women in particular often face daily discrimination, harassment and violence because of their gender.
Watch to read testimonials by women garment workers in factories in South East Asia, South Asia and the West Asia and North Africa region.
The trade union, Garteks, has been working to improve work conditions for the millions of women garment and textile workers employed in Indonesia.
Melati is 24 year old young woman who works in a garment factory in Jakarta. She is a member of Garteks. The factory where Melati works is managed by a Korean Director, Mr. Park.
Watch to hear Melati introduce herself and tell us about her job at Park Enterprises factory.
Melati’s boss, Mr. Sinurat has worked in the garment industry for many years, and as the factory manager at the Park Enterprise factory in Jakarta for over eight years.
Following the incident, Melati reported Mr Sinurat’s harassment to Garteks who recorded the incident and reported it to management.
Watch to hear a reenacted telephone call between Melati and her trade union.
The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) at the Park Enterprises factory where Melati works, in which Garteks negotiated for new clauses on gender-based violence and harassment.
Watch Melati describe Mr Sinurat and her manager’s worsening behaviour after reporting the incident to Garteks.
Watch to hear a reinacted internal call at Garteks describes their handling of the harassment case.
After Garteks managed to succesfully advocate on behalf of Melati, based on the factory’s CBA and Code of Conduct, Mr Sinurat lost his job as factory manager.
“This is very important because we know that there is no regulation that protects workers from sexual harassment. So, we try so that at least they can be protected in PKB (name of the Collective Bargaining Agreement). We really hope that the TPKS Bill will be approved soon so that it can give us the confidence to fight similar cases.”
Melati is an example of a young woman who dared to speak up and report the incident to the trade union. Most cases go unreported for reasons of shame and fear.
Watch Melati explain that she was happy with the outcome after Garteks took up the complaint.
Garteks has in recent years been active in conducting training on gender-based violence and harassment in the workplace, educating its management and members on how to advocate for labour rights when they have been violated.