Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers Will Provide Legal Certainty and Clarity

VIVA – The Ministry of Manpower stated that the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) will provide legal certainty and clarity of duties and responsibilities of workers, employers and labor distributors.

"There needs to be a new law-level regulation so that it can protect workers in the household sector and now it has become a priority in national legislation for 2023," said the Director General of Binwasnaker and K3 of the Ministry of Manpower, Haiyani Rumondang in Jakarta, Monday 30^th January 2023.

Her party sees that Law (UU) No.13/2003 concerning Manpower has not been able to protect domestic sector workers, so they then issue Ministerial Regulation No.2/2015. However, this is also considered insufficient.

So far, there has been no protection of the fundamental rights of domestic workers, such as certainty of wages, social protection, protection for security and comfort at work, both in terms of health and safety and protection for the right to leave.

"It is these matters that are encouraged to be included in the draft bill," she said.

That way, domestic workers will get the rights needed to get a decent life. Haiyani also said that the PPRT regulation would provide assurance for service users regarding clear identity information from workers.

"In addition, service users can also consult related agencies to be able to obtain information and complaints along with what the format of the work contract will be," she said.

As for the supply of manpower, Haiyani said the law would later regulate capacity building and competence of workers prior to distribution so they could meet the service standards expected by employers.

Meanwhile, Deputy for the Protection of Women's Rights of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (Kementerian PPPA) Ratna Susianawati said that if this bill could be passed it would be in line with the Ministry of PPPA which received five mandates from women, one of which was to reduce the number of violence against women and children. .

According to her, domestic workers are one of the parties who often experience violence and discrimination at work.

"We also encourage massive campaigns so that domestic workers have the courage to speak up when they experience cases such as discrimination and violence. We also encourage empowerment through training so that later domestic workers who work not only in the country but also abroad can avoid violence. " she said.