Better working conditions in the textile industryIndonesia
In November 2022, a SECO delegation travelled to Indonesia to discuss labour and employment issues with representatives of the Indonesian Ministry of Labour and with Swiss and Indonesian social partners. Switzerland supports efficient manufacturers in the Indonesian textile and garment industry that provide jobs with decent working conditions.
The Swiss delegation visited the PT. Sumbiri garment factory in Central Java, which employs almost 4,000 people. Since 2015 it has been operating in line with the Better Work programme initiated by Switzerland and the International Labour Organization. The factory has increased its participation in social dialogue and improved cooperation, health and safety standards in the workplace.
Boris Zürcher
Head of the Labour Directorate at SECO
SECO's mission falls under Switzerland's sustainable foreign economic policy and demonstrates in practice how the free trade agreement between the EFTA states and Indonesia is being implemented.
The textile and garment industry employs over 60 million people worldwide, predominantly women. In some countries, textiles account for 70% of total exports. The Better Work programme helps export companies to comply with national labour laws and international labour standards. It advises and
trains management and workers in workplace cooperation, quality management, occupational safety and cooperative human resource management, as well as environmentally friendly production methods.
By the end of 2022, Better Work had improved the working conditions of some 3.3 million employees. Switzerland has supported the programme since 2009. In 2022, the next strategic phase up to 2027 was announced. In addition to continuing the work done so far, the aims now are to help companies recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and improve supply chain resilience to global shocks.
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Better working conditions in the textile industry
