139 shop-floor monitors help workers report harassment

The story

A labor agreement in Indonesia led to 165 sanctions for harassment after 236 reports from garment workers, including verbal abuse and physical intimidation, though it's unclear if harassment has decreased.

Source: wwd.com

Our reading

The Central Java Agreement has given workers a way to report harassment, and 165 sanctions followed. But the real kicker is that the system includes 139 shop-floor monitors, all of whom are workers. It’s like giving the victims a seat at the table to decide their own punishment. Now, when a manager tries to grope someone, the worker can just walk over to one of the 139 monitors and say, ‘Hey, I need a report.’ It’s a system that’s both empowering and a bit surreal, like having a jury of your peers decide whether your boss is a creep. The monitors don’t have the power to fire anyone, but they do get to help write the report. It’s a step up from nothing, but also a reminder that even in progress, the rules are still written by the people who used to be the problem.