AJI Indonesia Labour School Training Module: Strengthening the Capacity of Media Workers and Trade Unions to Advance Decent Work

Indonesia’s media sector has undergone profound changes in recent years, driven by digital transformation, economic pressures, and challenges to press freedom. These developments have significantly affected the working conditions of journalists and other media workers. Waves of layoffs, uncertainty in employment relations, and growing safety risks indicate that media workers are becoming increasingly vulnerable.

Research findings, including Portrait of Indonesian Journalists 2025, show that the challenges faced by journalists are not limited to welfare issues. They also include the protection of rights, job security, gender inequality, and weak mechanisms for collective protection. These conditions underline the serious challenges that remain in realizing the principle of decent work in the media sector.

In this context, trade unions play a strategic role as instruments for collective protection and advocacy for media workers’ rights. However, the constantly changing dynamics of the industry require trade unions to strengthen their capacity in organizing, advocacy, negotiation, and organizational management.

This module has been developed as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of media workers. It is designed for two main groups: (1) media workers who are already members of a trade union or are in the process of establishing one; and (2) media workers who are not yet unionized or who work in companies where no union currently exists. Therefore, the materials in this module not only focus on strengthening existing organizations but also aim to build awareness, encourage initiative, and support the first steps towards collective protection.

Authors:
Asnil Bambani Amri
Edi Faisol
Ibrahim Arsyad

Editor:
Bayu Wardhana

Cover and Layout:
Suratman

Program Team:
Naharin Ni’matun
April Novita