Nearly 20 years in the making: Indonesia could finally pass law to protect domestic workers from abuse
The proposed legislation has been in limbo in parliament for almost two decades.
JAKARTA: Indonesian domestic worker Rizki Nur Azkia had been kicked, punched and beaten by her former employers, a couple living in Jakarta.
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“If the dishes weren't clean enough, the wife would tell me to be naked and would make a video of me. I was stripped to the skin and told to sleep on the balcony,” the 18-year-old recalled.Â
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“She would then pour syrup on my body and lock the balcony door. The next morning, she would open the door.”
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Domestic workers in Indonesia like her could soon get better care and legal recognition, as the government speeds up deliberations on a proposed law aimed at offering better protection for them.
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The Domestic Workers’ Protection Bill, which has been in limbo in parliament for 19 years, is now a priority for the Indonesian government.
PROTECTING DOMESTIC WORKERS MADE A PRIORITY
Activists said they have received more than 3,200 complaints of violence against domestic workers since 2015.Â
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The Bill to protect domestic workers is now a priority for the government.Â
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Indonesian President Joko Widodo said: “To promptly enact the Bill on the protection of domestic workers, I have instructed the Legal and Human Rights Minister and Manpower Minister to immediately coordinate and consult with lawmakers and all stakeholders.”
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Under the Bill, employers who are guilty of violence against their domestic workers can be jailed up to eight years.Â
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The Bill also sets the minimum age of domestic workers at 18.Â
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In addition, workers and employers must enter into a written contract setting out the various terms and conditions. These include salary and benefits, working hours, and rest days.
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Domestic workers are hopeful that after waiting nearly 20 years, their rights can be ironed out sooner rather than later.
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“I think this is good because for rest days, some of us get two days in a month or once a week. That's based on the agreement between the domestic worker and employer,” said domestic worker Sania.Â
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She added that with the proposed law, employers cannot do as they wish to act against domestic workers.
NOT RECOGNISED AS FORMAL WORKERS
There are about 4 million domestic workers in Indonesia, and they do not have legal protection because they are not recognised as formal workers.
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The Bill also safeguards the interests of employers. For example, it identifies work categories to better manage employers' expectations.Â
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Ms Putri Fitria, who has hired help, said: “I want to know what’s her background, what are her skills. Previously, my domestic worker said she can't cook and that's okay.
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“More importantly, the person should be energetic and play with my child, because I'm working and can't take care of him all the time.”
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Every Wednesday, a small group of domestic workers and activists would show up in front of the House of Representatives, urging lawmakers to quickly pass the Bill and not delay it any longer.Â
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Worker advocates said the Bill is similar to agreements which the country insists with foreign governments, when their citizens employ Indonesian migrant workers.
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Indonesia supplies thousands of its citizens every year to many countries, mostly working as domestic workers.
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“This means it becomes a bargaining position when we make demands on the destination countries to protect our migrant workers,” said activist Lita Anggraini, who is coordinator for the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy. Â
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“In our own country, we should also have regulations so that it's consistent.”