Convention 190, which was ratified by the ILO on June 21, 2019, regarding the Elimination of Violence and Harassment in the World of Work, has now reached its 1 (one) year anniversary. The anniversary of ILO Convention 190 coincides with the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced the majority of people around the world to stay at home for extended periods. However, many people, especially workers, have not been able to work from home or have even become targets of layoffs (PHK). In this situation, there has also been a significant increase in gender-based violence cases in various countries. 

Chidi King, as the Equality Director at the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), stated that many workers have lost their jobs and/or do not have the privilege to self-isolate during the pandemic. Additionally, the number of gender-based violence cases has sharply increased. Some medical and social workers, of whom at least 70% globally are women, have experienced harassment both verbally and physically. For workers who are working from home, it is also not easy, especially for women who have to work and take care of household responsibilities at the same time. It is also important to recognize that working from home will be very challenging for victims or survivors of domestic violence or violence within the household. 

Harassment and violence, especially sexual harassment and violence, often need to be proven with forensic evidence, which certainly does not cover harassment in the form of verbal or mental abuse. Meanwhile, ILO Convention 190 defines harassment and violence as behaviors or actions that are not acceptable behaviors and practices or threats (including gender-based actions) that occur in a single incident or repeatedly, aiming and/or resulting in physical, psychological, sexual, or economic harm. This makes the ratification of ILO Convention 190 very important both in times of prosperity and in times of crisis. 

Uruguay became the first country to ratify ILO Convention 190, followed by Fiji. In Fiji, Members of the Fiji Parliament have agreed to ratify ILO Convention 190 on May 28, 2020, with support from the Prime Minister, Attorney General, opposition, and other parties. The countries of Samoa, Vanuatu, Thailand, and Timor Leste have started or are planning to conduct a pre-ratification analysis. Indonesia is one of the countries that has expressed interest in ratifying ILO Convention 190 in the future, along with Bangladesh, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Furthermore, it has been reported that Indonesia has raised the issue of ratifying ILO Convention 190 to the parliament.