Gov’t Committed to Monitoring Passing of Law on Domestic Worker Protection

President Jokowi delivers a press statement on Domestic Worker Protection Bill accompanied by Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah, Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga, and Deputy to the Presidential Chief of Staff for Political, Legal, Defense, Security, and Human Rights Affairs Jaleswari Pramodhawardani at the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (01/18). (Source: a screenshot)

The Government has reinforced commitment to monitoring the passing of Bill on Domestic Worker Protection into law.

“In addition to making substantial efforts, we need to make political efforts. The President has stated that the Government will monitor and pay very serious attention to oversee that the Bill on Domestic Worker Protection is passed into law,” Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga said in her press statement at the State Palace in Jakarta, Wednesday (01/18).

According to Bintang, the bill that also includes provisions for employers and employment agencies will provide comprehensive protection for domestic workers.

“It is not only related to discrimination and violence but also wage and everything. The Bill on Domestic Worker Protection is extremely vital. It not only focuses on providing protection to domestic workers but also regulates [requirements for] employers and agencies of the workers,” she said, adding that the bill has seen a significant development and accommodated recommendations from all stakeholders.

“I hope this year we can give our best for domestic workers and in overseeing the agreement of employers and agencies,” she remarked.

Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah also stated that the bill also regulates social protection.

“The bill also regulates social protection and insurance, including health insurance and social security,” she said, adding that domestic worker protection is currently regulated by Regulation of Minister of Manpower Number 2 of 2015 on Domestic Worker Protection.

“In our view, we need a regulatory instrument that is at a higher level than Regulation of Minister of Manpower. It is time that this Regulation of Minister of Manpower be passed into law,” she said.

In the meantime, Deputy to the Presidential Chief of Staff for Political, Legal, Defense, Security, and Human Rights Affairs Jaleswari Pramodhawardani pointed out that the Government has established a task force to accelerate the passing of Domestic Worker Protection Bill into a law.

“We have established a task force helmed by Vice Minister of Law and Human Rights with Minister of Manpower acting as [the representative of] the leading sector,” he said, adding that the Government will collaborate with all stakeholders to pass the bill. (FID/UN) (DH/EP)