PPRT Bill in September 2024″/>
ACTIVIST of the National Domestic Workers Advocacy Network (Jala PRT), Lita Anggraini said she was very disappointed with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) which had played around with the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) by returning the draft to the DPR Expert Body when the study related to the Problem Inventory List (DIM) and the Presidential Letter (Supres) had been completed and available.
“This PPRT bill has been studied for 20 years and DPR has visited and appealed abroad, there is already an academic manuscript in the form of a study and various letters and conditions are also complete. It means that the study has been completed, it just needs to be confirmed, but why is it still being brought to BKD?,” said Lita in a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday (11/9).
Lita urged the Indonesian House of Representatives to immediately pass the PPRT Bill in September 2024 as a basis for protection for more than 5 million domestic workers. According to her, if the House of Representatives can pass the Ciptaker Law and the Revision of the Pilkada Law in a matter of days, then the PPRT Bill, which has fewer articles than the two regulations, should be able to be passed immediately.
“Since 1.5 years ago in March 2021, the PPRT Bill has been an initiative draft but the DPR leadership has not scheduled it for discussion. This is in contrast to how the DPR discussed other bills such as Ciptaker and Elections in a short time, the ratification of this bill is a matter of the DPR’s political will,” he said.
Lita assessed that so far the DPR has been very quick to pass bills that favor the authorities and businessmen, while bills that favor the people are often ignored and played with. If this continues until the end of the term, the DPR, Lita said, will be remembered as an agent of modern slavery in Indonesia.
“DPR members must immediately pass the PPRT Bill, rejecting this law means that the DPR chooses to be remembered as an agent of slavery in Indonesia. However, the DPR can work because there is the role of domestic workers, this country can run and produce because there are domestic workers, without domestic workers the country will also be paralyzed,” he said.
Also read: DPR asked to respond to pressure to ratify PPRT Bill
Staff and Lawyer from LBH Apik, Aprillia Tengker explained that protection for domestic workers is very important because violence that occurs in domestic work is experiencing a state of emergency violence. It is said that every year there are always cases of violence against domestic workers reported.
“Many domestic workers experience physical, sexual, and psychological violence, including the condition of not being paid their normative rights as workers. The absence of protection for domestic work makes people not fulfill their obligations to domestic workers,” he said.
Aprillia explained that domestic workers cannot be protected by the Employment Law because in terms of regulations, the law only accommodates formal workers. This problem was also reported in a case submitted to LBH Jakarta.
“Why can’t domestic workers be protected by law or Manpower? Because this law structurally cannot protect informal workers, it is very important for us to push for the ratification of the Domestic Workers Bill which has its own characteristics related to wage regulations, layoff regulations and others,” he added.
“We once received a report of a domestic worker case and then brought it to the Manpower Office but it turned out that they did not accept the case on the grounds that they could not handle it because the law could not protect domestic workers. This is an example of where domestic workers find it difficult to obtain their normative rights legally,” he said. (H-2)
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What are the key provisions included in the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (PPRT Bill) in Indonesia?
Table of Contents
Protecting Indonesia’s Domestic Workers: The Long-Awaited Passage of the PPRT Bill
Indonesia is home to over 5 million domestic workers, who contribute significantly to the country’s economy and households. However, these workers often face exploitation, physical and sexual abuse, and are denied their basic rights as workers. The lack of protection for domestic workers has led to a state of emergency, with cases of violence against them reported every year.
For over 20 years, the Indonesian government has been working on the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT), which aims to provide protection and recognition to these workers. However, despite the completion of the study and the availability of the Presidential Letter (Supres), the bill has been delayed and played around with by the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI).
The National Domestic Workers Advocacy Network (Jala PRT) has urged the DPR to pass the PPRT Bill in September 2024, citing the importance of providing protection to domestic workers. Lita Anggraini, an activist from Jala PRT, expressed her disappointment with the DPR’s slow progress on the bill, stating that it is a matter of the DPR’s political will.
Domestic workers in Indonesia, including those working abroad, are often vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. According to Wikipedia, Indonesian migrant workers are mostly low-skilled and work in the domestic sector, making them prone to exploitation, extortion, physical and sexual abuses, and human trafficking [[1]]. This highlights the need for urgent action to protect these workers.
The PPRT Bill is essential for providing protection to domestic workers, including ensuring their normative rights as workers, such as fair pay and safe working conditions. Aprillia Tengker, a staff and lawyer from LBH Apik, explained that domestic workers cannot be protected by the Employment Law because it only accommodates formal workers. Therefore, the PPRT Bill is crucial for addressing the structural gap in protecting informal workers like domestic workers.
The ILO has also recognized the importance of promoting decent work for domestic workers in Indonesia, with a specific project aimed at improving their working conditions and protecting their rights [[2]]. Furthermore, a significant proportion of Indonesian domestic workers are female, making up the single largest group of female salaried workers contributing to households in their own country or abroad [[2]].
The delay in passing the PPRT Bill has led to frustration among activists and domestic workers, who feel that the DPR is more interested in passing bills that favor authorities and businessmen rather than the people. Lita Anggraini warned that if the DPR continues to ignore the bill, they will be remembered as an agent of modern slavery in Indonesia.
the passage of the PPRT Bill is long overdue, and it is essential for protecting the rights and dignity of Indonesia’s domestic workers. The Indonesian government must take immediate action to address the exploitation and abuse faced by these workers, and ensure that they are treated with the respect and protection they deserve.
References:
[1] Wikipedia. (n.d.). Indonesian migrant worker. Retrieved from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesianmigrantworker>
[2] International Labour Organization. (n.d.). Promoting Decent Work for Domestic Workers in Indonesia. Retrieved from
[3] Routed Magazine. (2023, November 13). Indonesian domestic migrant workers in Taiwan. Retrieved from
What specific measures does the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (PPRT Bill) include to ensure the rights and safety of domestic workers in Indonesia?
Protecting Indonesia’s Domestic Workers: The Long-Awaited PPRT Bill
Indonesia is home to millions of domestic workers who play a vital role in the country’s economy and households. However, these workers often face exploitation, physical and sexual abuse, and lack of protection under the law. For 20 years, advocates have been pushing for legislation to protect the rights of domestic workers, and the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) is on the table. But why is it taking so long to pass?
The Plight of Domestic Workers
Domestic workers in Indonesia are often low-skilled and work in the domestic sector, making them prone to exploitation, extortion, physical and sexual abuses, and human trafficking[[[3]]. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), domestic workers represent the single largest group of female salaried workers contributing to the households of others in their own country or abroad [[2]]. These workers are essential to the functioning of many households, yet they are often treated as inferior and denied basic rights and protection.
The Need for Protection
Advocates argue that protection for domestic workers is crucial because violence against them is a state of emergency. Every year, cases of physical, sexual, and psychological violence against domestic workers are reported, and they are often denied their normative rights as workers [[1]]. The absence of protection for domestic work makes people not fulfill their obligations to domestic workers, perpetuating the cycle of exploitation.
The PPRT Bill: A Solution Long Overdue
The PPRT Bill has been studied for 20 years, with an academic manuscript and various letters and conditions already complete. Yet, the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has repeatedly delayed its passage, sparking outrage among advocates and lawmakers. Lita Anggraini, an activist from the National Domestic Workers Advocacy Network (Jala PRT), urges the DPR to immediately pass the PPRT Bill in September 2024, citing the dire need for protection for over 5 million domestic workers.
A Matter of Political Will
Lita argues that the DPR has been quick to pass bills that favor authorities and businessmen, while bills that favor the people are often ignored and played with. If this continues, the DPR will be remembered as an agent of modern slavery in Indonesia. The passage of the PPRT Bill is a matter of political will, and it is imperative that lawmakers take action to protect the rights of domestic workers.
Conclusion
The protection of domestic workers is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The PPRT Bill has been long overdue, and its passage is crucial to ensure that domestic workers are protected from exploitation and abuse. It is time for the Indonesian government to take action and demonstrate its commitment to protecting the rights of all workers, including those in the domestic sector.
References:
[1] https://www.asianews.it/news-en/Legislation-to-protect-Indonesian-domestic-workers-is-front-page-news-again-60995.html
[2] https://www.ilo.org/projects-and-partnerships/projects/promoting-decent-work-domestic-workers-indonesia
[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesianmigrantworker
Keywords: domestic workers, Indonesia, PPRT Bill, protection, exploitation, abuse, labor rights, human trafficking.
