Report on training of trainers in Indonesia – Advanced Training with KEP and Basic Training with a number of unions in collabora

OSH training with FSP-KEP - The first training was a follow up on the training done with KEP in 2007. But out of the 18 trainers that turned up for the training only 5 were from the earlier basic training. So the schedule for the training had to be a compromise of the basic and advanced training again to meet the needs of the mixed bunch present. The trainers were quick to assure the facilitators that they had knowledge about OSH and that they were not that green.
The training was divided into an introductory sessions where there was discussion and sharing on OSH issues in Asia and the role of AMRC as a regional labour organisation. There was also a presentation on ANROAV and its role in the Asian region to link up victims groups, NGOs, trade unions and OSHE centres.
This was followed by introducing the hazard mapping exercise as this is an important technique for the trainers to use to identify the hazards at the workplace and which they can use in their future trainings. In the first training, the content was a mixture of basic and advanced modules. Participants did give feedback to facilitators on their progress after the last training in Indonesia. They have been active in their factories and workplaces to set up OSH committees and bring about changes in OSH conditions in their factories. The training started off with hazard mapping as a technique for trainers to identify and document the hazards in their workplaces to help them in the plan later post training in the next year 6 months to one year. This was followed by the introduction of hazards like chemicals, heat and then on gender and sexual harassment. One of the interesting things that we observed in this training with FSP KEP is that for the basic training and for the follow up training all the trainers were men. This is an issue that the facilitators addressed because when they were discussing the composition of workers in the factories earlier, women workers were about 80% in more than one of the factory where the union representatives were from. But when they were questioned as to why there are no women in the training, they replied saying that they were too busy taking care of their families etc. It was therefore imperative to address this issue as this reflected the gender insensitivity on the part of those present as they just brushed issue aside as if it was not important. And for them to understand the importance of supporting and understanding the sisters who are in the union and why they require more sensitivity on gender division on labour. One of AMRC long term goals is to build women leadership at the grass root level and this training is one of the areas in which we are working on at the ground to bring about change in the mindset and thought process of the unions we are working. Though we cannot expect change overnight, it is a process that we want to nurture and grow in our partner organisations in Asia.

The next session was on labour law in Indonesia that was facilitated by LBH, Bandung. This session was in relation to laws, compensation on OSH issues for workers. There was a session on removal of hazards and what should be the principles as a union to protect workers in the factory. Finally, the members of the training drew up an action plan on what the way forward will be in regards to OSH as an agenda in their union and how they will mainstream in it the issues they work for in the factories and work places. The plan they drew was at the plant level with the union and at the federation level.