Fair Wear tours Indonesian factory with Dutch Minister Ploumen

Dutch Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Lilianne Ploumen is visiting Indonesia this week. FWF’s Kees Gootjes accompanied her during a factory tour in the Cakung area, in north-east Jakarta.

There, in one of the oldest manufacturing districts in Indonesia, the Dutch delegation led by Minister Ploumen visited the sewing area, health clinic and trade union office of two garment factories, one of which is a supplier of FWF Kjus. The Minister had the opportunity to hear about how the Swiss outdoor brand and the factory jointly followed up on findings from the most recent FWF factory audit.

Trade union

While in the factory, the minister was shown the improvements that the factory made since it was audited in 2014. Examples included better work contract documentation and improved water quality. Ploumen also met with the factory-level trade union and encouraged more female participation in trade union leadership.

Minister Ploumen is visiting Indonesian garment factories to highlight the work that FWF and ILO Better Work are doing with funding provided by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Indonesia is an important part of the five year Strategic Partnership. And, work in the country, carried out in cooperation with partners Mondiaal FNV and CNV Internationaal, focuses on living wages, social dialogue and violence against women in garment factories.