Gov’t to Accelerate the Ratification of Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill

President Jokowi and Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah (Photo by: BPMI Setpres/Muchlis Jr)

The Government urged to accelerate the ratification of Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill. Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah stated that the ratification of this bill could form the basis for managing and solving issues in employment sector, especially in protecting domestic workers.

“The Domestic Workers’ Protection Law enables us to solve some issues faced by domestic workers, as it provides us a very clear legal basis,” said the Minister, as cited in the official website of the Ministry of Manpower, Wednesday (01/25).

Ida argued that the upstream stage collaboration is required in providing protection to domestic workers.

“If we can solve domestic workers’ problems in the upstream stage, the downstream will most likely follow,” she added.

Ida went on to say that the government is responsible to support the ratification of the Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill with the focus on providing protection to domestic workers.

On his press statement, Wednesday (01/18), President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo mentioned that the government is committed and working hard to provide protection to domestic workers. He also urged to speed up the Domestic Workers’ Protection Law.

“To speed up the ratification of the Domestic Workers’ Protection Law, I order Minister of Law and Human Rights and Minister of Manpower to immediately take coordinative and consultative measures with the House of Representatives and all related stakeholders,” stated the President.

According to the President, until today, Indonesia’s manpower law has not yet regulated domestic workers in a specific and firm manner. We have been waiting for more than 19 years for the ratification of the Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill.

“The Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill has been listed in the 2023 priority bill and will become the initiative of the House,” the President added.

The President hoped that the regulation will be able to provide better protection to domestic workers, whose number up to approximately 4 million people in Indonesia. President is concerned that domestic workers are prone to lose their rights as workers.

“I wish the Domestic Workers’ Protection Law can be ratified as soon as possible, consequently it can provide a better protection to domestic workers, employers, and workers’ suppliers,” the President asserted. (UN) (AY/HD/LW)