Skills development and responsible business conduct
ILO and its business partners unite to drive responsible business through skills development
Three newly published guidelines aim to enhance training programmes and professional development, equipping future professionals with essential skills while ensuring ethical labour standards.
2 June 2025
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ILO News) - In today’s global economy, responsible business conduct (RBC) is essential for sustainable growth, ethical business practices and social impact. Companies are expected to go beyond profit-making and actively contribute to workforce development, fostering inclusivity, fairness, and transparency in employment practices.
One of the most effective ways to achieve RBC is to collaborate with the private sector to develop skills development programmes that can ensure the future professionals are equipped with the right skills while upholding ethical labour practices. The private sector plays a key role in shaping the workforce by providing hands-on experience and industry-relevant training.
The ILO, therefore, through its Skills Development and Responsible Business Conduct Project, funded by the Government of Japan through the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has collaborated with the Ministry of Manpower and employers' organizations, including the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) and the Indonesian Employers’ Association (Apindo), to develop three technical guidelines in Bahasa Indonesia that promote ethical training programmes and professional development, as outlined below:
This technical guideline is based on the Grievance Mechanism Toolkit developed by Better Work. Initially created as a grievance mechanism for enterprise workers, it has been adapted by the ILO’s METI-Skills project, in partnership with the Ministry of Manpower, Kadin and Apindo, to enhance workplace apprenticeship programmes—offering apprentices a formal platform to raise complaints and grievances.
The guideline outlines a step-by-step process for companies, detailing how apprentices can submit complaints and grievances, the types of issues to be addressed and the appropriate actions companies should take upon receiving them. It also establishes a clear set of rules for all parties involved, ensuring that everyone understands the correct procedures for intake, investigation, resolution and integration.
As a result of this partnership, the guideline aims to guide apprentices while helping companies foster a safe, respectful, and positive work environment. It is expected to reduce risks such as discrimination, harassment, intimidation, regulatory violations, occupational accidents and health hazards.
Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste
This Training of Trainers' Guide has been customized to align with Indonesia’s specific conditions and context. Its adaptation was a collaborative effort involving various tripartite stakeholders and underwent pilot testing across multiple institutions in partnership with Apindo.
This Guide serves as a key reference for trainers in promoting responsible business principles within their work environment. It is designed to support business development and the evolving world of work by providing accessible training programmes and fostering the acquisition of new skills and expertise. The Guide also integrates diverse teaching materials, including innovative technologies, to enhance the training process.
“Through this partnership, Apindo remains confident that responsible business conduct will positively impact the competitiveness and sustainability of businesses in Indonesia. Responsible business today, sustainable progress tomorrow.”
Shinta Kamdani, Chairperson of Apindo
This guideline, developed through the collaboration of the ILO and Kadin, provides comprehensive support for companies in designing and managing on-the-job training programmes or also known in Bahasa Indonesia as Praktik Kerja Lapangan (PKL) for students tailored to Indonesia’s business landscape. It empowers businesses—whether medium, small, or micro—to create meaningful learning opportunities for young individuals, reinforcing responsible business practices. The guideline also aims to help companies providing safe and healthy learning environment for students in the workplace.
We hope this guideline serves as a practical tool for companies in establishing transparent and equitable apprenticeship programmes. It also reflects the multidimensional collaboration between government, industry and international institutions. May this partnership mark the beginning of a long journey in developing competent, competitive, and sustainable Indonesian human resources.
Adi Mahfudz Wuhadji,Kadin’s Deputy Chairperson for Vocational and Certification Affairs
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