The ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Law is important. Protection is needed considering that the estimated 4 million domestic workers in Indonesia were at risk of losing their rights as workers.
By
SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR
·3 minutes read
TANGKAPAN LAYAR MEDIA SOSIAL
Screenshot of President Jokowi accompanied by Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, and Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, declaring government support for domestic workers, Wednesday (18/1/2023).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Domestic workers struggling to be acknowledged through the Domestic Workers Protection Bill now see a glimmer of hope. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has ordered the Law and Human Rights Minister and the Manpower Minister to coordinate and consult with the House of Representatives immediately on passing the law.
Domestic workers and the Civil Coalition for the Domestic Workers Protection Law (PPRT) view the President’s statement as a solution to the bill’s stalled legislation, which has been continuing for 19 years.
“This is just the beginning of the next step. Hopefully, the House leaders will listen and immediately deliberate the bill with the government and find a common ground that can be accepted by all. The ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Law is important, as it will be part of the legacy of [both] the President and House,” Lita Anggraini, the national coordinator at the National Network for Domestic Worker Advocacy (JALA PRT), said on Wednesday (18/1/2023) in response to the President’s statement at the State Palace that morning.
At the State Palace on Wednesday morning, President Jokowi, accompanied by Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati and Office of the Presidential Staff Deputy V Jaleswari Pramodhawardani, emphasized that the government was working hard to provide protection for domestic workers.
Protection is needed considering that the estimated 4 million domestic workers in Indonesia were at risk of losing their rights as workers. The President hopes that the law will be ratified soon and provide better protection for domestic workers, employers and recruiters.
FERGANATA INDRA RIATMOKO
Domestic Workers (PRT) paint the bridge supporting wall which will be painted with murals on the Kewek Bridge in Kotabaru, Yogyakarta, Wednesday (12/15/2021). They held an action to protest the discussion of the Domestic Worker Protection Bill which had not been completed for dozens of years.
This long journey to ratifying the Domestic Workers Protection Bill began in 2004, when JALA PRT submitted the draft bill to the 2004-2009, which then became the House’s right of initiative. The bill was then included in the 2004-2009 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas), but was never discussed. Several House sessions passed, and the bill had not made any progress.
Finally, in 2020, deliberation on the bill reached the House Legislative Body (Baleg), but the process halted just as it was about to be submitted to the House plenary session to become part of the House’s initiative bill.
We hope there will be a positive response from the House since Pak [Mr.] Jokowi has already made a statement.
PPRT coordinator Eva Sundar expressed the hope that after President Jokowi’s statement, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and the Golkar Party factions, which had so far not supported the bill’s acceleration, would both support finalizing the bill so it became the House’s initiative bill.
“As was seen during the process of the Sexual Violence Law, we hope there will be a positive response from the House since Pak [Mr.] Jokowi has already made a statement,” said Eva.
House member Charles Honoris from the PDI-P faction stressed that his faction had never hampered or objected to the Domestic Workers Protection Bill. From the beginning, the PDI-P had understood the importance of the regulation to protect domestic workers in Indonesia. However, there were various dynamics and critical notes at Baleg, which might have impeded the process.
