Negotiations for the Gender Justice Pact were conducted by several unions, including the Serikat Pekerja Nasional (SPN), the Federasi Serikat Pekerja Tekstil Sandang dan Kulit Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia (FSP TSK SPSI), and the Serikat Buruh Demokratis Kerakyatan – Kongres Aliansi Serikat Buruh Indonesia (SBDK – KASBI).
The agreement, initially signed in July of the previous year, emerged in response to reports of gender-based violence and harassment experienced by female workers in two Indonesian garment factories. This alarming situation prompted investigations by the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) in 2021 and 2022, leading to “remedial actions, including the discipline and termination of numerous perpetrators.”
The two factories involved, PT Batang Apparel Indonesia and PT Semarang Garment Indonesia, are owned by Ontide, a firm recently acquired by the Korean conglomerate Creas F&C. Previously, these factories operated under a different ownership structure known as Kukdong. Collectively, they employ 6,250 individuals who manufacture sportswear for prominent U.S. brands.
Egye Gumilang, the plant-level leader of PSP SPN at PT Batang Apparel Indonesia, emphasized the broader significance of the agreement, stating: “This agreement is not just about two factories in Central Java. It sets a precedent for the garment industry in Indonesia, Southeast Asia, and globally that workers can and must have the right to a safe and dignified workplace. We call on all trade unions in this sector to take inspiration from this agreement in their struggles.”
The accord introduces a union-led initiative aimed at eradicating gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) by integrating international best practices, as exemplified by the Dindigul and Lesotho Agreements.
Signatories to this pivotal agreement also include the Asia Floor Wage Alliance (AFWA) and Global Labor Justice (GLJ). Wiranta Ginting, AFWA’s deputy international coordinator, expressed pride in the collaboration, stating: “AFWA is proud to join the women worker members of our partner union SPN and allied unions SPSI and SBDK KASBI in Indonesia in launching this new enforceable supply chain agreement on GBVH prevention in Asia. When Asian workers unite and share lessons across the region, we win major breakthroughs with global brands and suppliers.”
Under the Central Java Agreement, buyers with apparel licensing agreements affiliated with WRC universities are mandated to ensure compliance from their suppliers regarding obligations toward workers and unions. This enforcement mechanism has proved instrumental in facilitating the implementation of recommended solutions and ensuring successful negotiations.
John Yoon, Ontide’s sustainability director, remarked: “We are proud to be joining together with the four unions representing our workforce, the Asia Floor Wage Alliance, Global Labor Justice, and the Worker Rights Consortium on this agreement to benefit and protect our workforce, with the support of our business partner Fanatics. As part of our commitment to our workers’ safety and wellbeing, we are pleased to be seeing initial results of the timely and robust implementation of this agreement.”
