President Reminds Workers Vaccination Must Continue To Be Intensive

JAKARTA - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that COVID-19 vaccination for workers, both formal and informal sectors, and their families must continue to be intensified to provide a sense of security in the world of work.

"We must create a safe working environment for workers, we must continue to intensify vaccination efforts for the workforce and families," said President Jokowi in his remarks at the ILO Global Forum for a Human-Centred Recovery from the COVID-19, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, 23 February.

The President gave an example in Indonesia, the COVID-19 vaccine is given free of charge to all residents, including workers. The creation of a safe work environment, said the President, is a solution to face the challenges of the world of work during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) projects that the global unemployment rate could reach 207 million people in 2022 or an increase of 21 million people from 2019. In the midst of challenges in the world of work, the President said, the pace of health and economic recovery between countries was also uneven because differences in the achievement of vaccination and fiscal stimulus.

"Therefore, I strongly support the direction of the recovery in the world of work that must be human-oriented. We need seriousness to carry out a global call to action for a human-centred recovery," said the President.

Besides having to intensify vaccinations for workers, President Jokowi also called for strengthening social protection for workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Then, the President also called for various countries to work together and innovate to create new jobs.

"We must strengthen the competitiveness of our workers in facing future world challenges, we must continue to do reskilling and upskilling, both by the government and the private sector," said President Jokowi.