Labour Rights, Freedom of Association, and Collective Bargaining for All Employees

Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) is fully committed to recognising and protecting the labour rights of all its employees, including lecturers, administrative staff, support staff, women, and international staff. Beyond guaranteeing freedom of association and collective bargaining, UNS ensures that employees have the right to fair wages, reasonable working hours, safe working conditions, protection from discrimination and harassment, and access to social security and welfare programs.

Legal Basis

As a government-affiliated institution, UNS operates under national regulations that uphold labour rights, including freedom of association and collective bargaining, for all employees, including women and international staff. In particular, UNS complies with the Indonesian Labour Law (Law No. 13 of 2003), which guarantees the right of workers to form and join trade unions, as stated in Article 104. Article 105 highlights the importance of collective bargaining between employees and employers. This commitment is further reinforced by Law No. 21 of 2000 on Trade Unions, which affirms the legal recognition of worker organisations.

Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining

UNS recognises trade unions and professional associations as legitimate platforms for employees to express their aspirations, advocate for their rights, and engage in constructive dialogue with management.

Some of the recognised employee representation platforms at UNS include:

1. Koperasi Pegawai Republik Indonesia (KPRI) UNS: Functions as a trade union and an economic welfare cooperative open to all campus members (civil servants, non-civil servants, and retired staff). KPRI regularly holds the Annual General Meeting (RAT), which serves as the highest decision-making forum and a space for dialogue between members and management.
2. Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) UNS: Focuses on empowering women and enhancing social welfare and skills for female members and spouses of employees.
3. Asosiasi Profesi: Lecturers and administrative staff are encouraged to participate actively in professional organisations (e.g., PII, IDI, IAI) as a means to enhance professional skills, foster solidarity, and promote collective interests.

Inclusivity for International Staff and Women

Employment policies, including the right to freedom of association, are applied equally to all employees, including women and international staff. In practice, international employees are entitled to join KPRI and participate fully in its activities. Women’s participation is further supported through DWP programs and active encouragement to take leadership roles in professional associations. Initiatives such as educational seminars on preventing sexual harassment demonstrate UNS’s commitment to creating a safe working environment for women.

Outcomes and Impact

Through these initiatives and programs, UNS has successfully established a safer, more inclusive, and harmonious working environment. Employees report increased feelings of security, solidarity, and welfare, evidenced by high participation rates in KPRI, Dharma Wanita Persatuan, and various professional associations. The inclusive and harmonious campus culture continues to strengthen, with no verified reports or cases of restrictions on freedom of association or collective bargaining during the reporting period. Furthermore, employee welfare and satisfaction have significantly improved, supported by social welfare programs and the protection of labour rights. Active participation of women and international staff in both academic and social activities on campus demonstrates the practical implementation of these labour rights.

Within the framework of achieving SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all, in 2024, UNS provided research and community service funding on SDG 8 topics. For example, several UNS researchers conducted studies and community service on employment and economic growth, including Rino Ardhian Nugroho, S.Sos., M.T.I., Ph.D., with his research titled “Strengthening Literacy for the Welfare of Indonesian Workers in Taiwan through Synergy with PKBM PPI Taiwan.” This research promotes the recognition of workers’ rights and freedom of association for all workers, including female and international workers.