Legal Recognition for Domestic Workers in Indonesia
Indonesia's parliament has enacted a law to safeguard the rights of domestic workers, more than two decades after the legislation was initially proposed.
The nation has approximately 4.2 million domestic workers, nearly 90% of whom are women. Previously, these workers were not legally recognized as employees under labor laws.
Under the new law, domestic workers will gain entitlement to health insurance, designated rest days, and pension benefits. Additionally, placement agencies will be prohibited from deducting wages unlawfully, and employing children under 18 years old as domestic workers will be illegal.
Emotional responses were noted among domestic workers upon the law’s passage. One worker described it as the result of a
"22-year struggle to gain protection".
Legislative Journey and Implementation
The Domestic Workers Protection Law was first introduced in 2004 but faced numerous obstacles. Parliamentary discussions were halted for several years before the bill was reintroduced in 2020.
Regulatory authorities are now required to develop detailed implementation guidelines within one year.
Challenges Faced by Domestic Workers
Despite their vital contribution to Indonesia's economy, millions of domestic workers lacked legal protections. Many were employed informally without contracts, endured long working hours for minimal pay, and some began working as young as 12 years old.
Ajeng Astuti, a domestic worker, shared her feelings with BBC Indonesian:
"It feels like a dream. This is our 22-year struggle as marginalised women to gain protection."
Jumiyem, a domestic worker from Yogyakarta, expressed her sentiments:
"We've been longing for this [law], and now we can feel it."
Reactions and Future Steps
Human rights organizations welcomed the law but emphasized that further efforts are necessary, cautioning that
"the struggle is not over".
Lita Anggraini from the Jala PRT rights group told AFP that a public education campaign would be essential to inform employers about their obligations.
The group documented over 3,300 cases of violence against domestic workers between 2021 and 2024, including physical and psychological abuse.
