Press Statement of President of the Republic of Indonesia on the Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, January 18, 2023

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Good morning,
Peace and prosperity be upon us,
Om Swastiastu,
Namo Buddhaya,
Greetings of Virtue.

Ladies and Gentlemen, My Fellow Citizens,
The Government and I are committed and make exert efforts to provide protection for domestic workers. The number of domestic workers in Indonesia is estimated to reach four million people and they are vulnerable to losing their rights as workers. And, it has been more than 19 years, still the domestic workers’ protection bill (RUU PPRT) has not been passed.

The current labor law in Indonesia does not specifically and explicitly regulate domestic workers. The PPRT bill has been included in the 2023 list of priority bills and this will be the House’s initiative. To accelerate the passing of the PPRT bill, I ordered Minister of Law and Human Rights and Minister of Manpower to immediately coordinate and consult with the House of Representatives and all stakeholders.

I hope the PPRT Law can be immediately passed and provide protection for domestic workers as well as employers and labor suppliers.

I thank you.
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

[Explanations from Minister of Manpower, Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection and  Deputy to the Presidential Chief of Staff for Political, Legal, Defense, Security, and Human Rights Affairs]

President of the Republic of Indonesia (Joko Widodo)

Is everything clear?

I think the point is we want to have legal protection beyond the ministerial regulation for domestic workers who are vulnerable to losing their rights as workers. That is the point. Because on the ground, these domestic workers are indeed vulnerable to losing their rights. And, it has been so many years, I think this is the time for us to have a Law on Domestic Workers.

Thank you.

(FI/MUR)