Warta Republik | MANILA — A traditional Indonesian pantun brought a distinctive touch of Indonesian culture to the international UNI Apro Care conference in Manila, as Hengky Suryo W., Chair of the Health and Pharmacy Sector of the ASPEK Indonesia Federation and Chairman of the Krakatau Medika Employees Union (SKKM), opened his presentation with a pantun before turning to the challenges facing health and care workers (13-14/09/2026).

Appearing in a batik shirt reflecting the cultural heritage of the Indonesian archipelago, Hengky stood before participants from different countries and began his presentation by introducing one of Indonesia’s traditional forms of poetry.

“Before I begin my presentation, with your permission, I would like to start with a traditional Indonesian pantun. A pantun is a traditional Indonesian rhyming poem consisting of an introduction and a main message.”

He then delivered his opening verse:

Across the seas, we come as one,
Sharing ideas beneath the sun.
Different nations, one common care,
Standing together, fair and square.

The message of the pantun reflected the spirit of the international gathering: different countries, but a shared concern for the future of care work and the protection of workers.

In Indonesian, the message conveys:

Melintasi lautan, kita datang sebagai satu,
Berbagi gagasan di bawah sinar matahari.
Berbeda negara, namun satu kepedulian,
Bersama memperjuangkan keadilan.

From Indonesian Culture to Global Labour Issues

After the cultural opening, Hengky moved into the substantive part of his presentation, outlining the situation of health and care workers in Indonesia.

He highlighted challenges including health workforce shortages and uneven distribution, heavy workloads, decent wages, occupational safety and health, social protection, collective bargaining, migrant care workers, and the impact of digitalisation and artificial intelligence.

The transition from pantun to labour issues created a distinctive moment in the conference: an Indonesian cultural tradition became an introduction to a discussion on issues shared by workers across borders.

Hengky stressed that improving healthcare services cannot be separated from improving the conditions of the people who provide them.

“Health workers are an essential part of the healthcare system. Therefore, when we talk about improving the quality of health services, we must also talk about workers’ protection, welfare, and working conditions.”


Batik as a Cultural Statement

Hengky’s appearance in Nusantara batik added another Indonesian element to the presentation.

The batik served not merely as formal attire, but also as a visual representation of Indonesian identity at an international trade union forum. Together with the pantun, it brought elements of Indonesian cultural heritage into a discussion that focused on global labour challenges.

The combination was particularly visible as Hengky moved between Indonesian cultural expression and international labour terminology-decent work, collective bargaining, migrant care workers, social protection, and responsible use of AI.

A Closing Pantun from Manila

Hengky returned to pantun at the end of his presentation, using another verse to reinforce the message of solidarity among workers and unions across countries.

From Manila we share our voice,
For decent work and workers’ choice.
Across Asia, hand in hand,
Together stronger, together we stand.

The closing pantun carries the message:

Dari Manila kita menyuarakan aspirasi,
Untuk pekerjaan layak dan hak menentukan pilihan bagi pekerja.
Di seluruh Asia, bergandengan tangan,
Bersama kita lebih kuat dan berdiri teguh.

The verse echoed the broader message of the UNI Apro Care meeting: that workers and trade unions need stronger cooperation in responding to changes in the care sector, including ageing populations, precarious employment, labour migration, and technological transformation.


Culture Meets Solidarity

For Hengky, the pantun provided more than an opening and closing to a formal presentation. It created a bridge between Indonesian cultural identity and international trade union solidarity.

From Manila, his message was framed around a simple principle: the future of care work must place workers at the centre.

And for the Indonesian delegation, the moment offered a distinctive way to introduce Indonesia—not only through its labour issues and union movement, but also through the cultural traditions of the Nusantara.

From a traditional Indonesian pantun to a global conversation on decent work, Hengky brought a piece of Nusantara to Manila-and connected it with the shared voice of care workers across Asia.