JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has voiced its support for the prompt ratification of the domestic workers’ protection bill (RUU PPRT) into law.
The bill, which was first proposed in 2004, has been included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
However, the bill’s legislative process is currently still stuck in the House of Representatives (DPR).
For ratification, the bill still needs to pass several stages—such as harmonization, establishment as an initiative bill of the DPR, level 1 discussion, and level 2 discussion—for which the target is still not clear.
The DPR has been pushed by several parties to ensure the prompt ratification of the bill, which is deemed essential for protecting domestic workers from various forms of violence and providing legal certainty to domestic workers and employers.
Apart from the goal of protecting domestic workers, the bill also highlights the aim of achieving social justice.
From 2017 to 2022, the National Domestic Worker Advocacy Network (Jala PRT) recorded at least 2,637 cases of violence against domestic workers, including economic violence (not receiving a salary and getting a salary cut), mental violence, physical violence, and sexual violence.
The Ministry of Manpower is one of the ministries tasked by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to prepare strategic steps to get the PPRT bill ratified quickly.
The Ministry of Manpower has held several focus group discussions (FGDs), both internal as well as with relevant stakeholders.
Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah said that her ministry is ready to discuss the PPRT bill. Currently, the government is still waiting for the decision of the DPR.
The ministry has also expressed its readiness to discuss any issues that become subjects of debate in the DPR considering the urgency for the bill’s passage because it is part of Indonesia’s development priorities.
DPR Deputy Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said that the discussion on the PPRT bill will be continued again after the DPR’s recess period ends. The recess will end on March 13, 2023.
