GENEVA - UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk today welcomed the passage by Indonesia's Parliament of the Domestic Workers Protection Law, saying the new legislation marks a historic breakthrough to protect the country's 4.2 million domestic workers, the vast majority of whom are women.
"After more than two decades of advocacy for stronger legal safeguards, this is a momentous development for domestic workers in Indonesia whose human rights, which most other workers take for granted, will now be enshrined into law," the High Commissioner said.
"It is essential that the Indonesian authorities move swiftly to implement this law, in order to make its protections real and effective in the everyday lives of domestic workers across the country," he added.
"I also encourage other States in the region and beyond to similarly take measures to legally recognise and protect the human and labour rights of the tens of millions of domestic workers worldwide, the majority of whom are women, who provide vital care and support to families, and contribute to societies and economies globally."
The new Indonesian law outlines a framework that recognises domestic workers as formal workers, moving them out of the informal and unregulated economy. These provisions regulate recruitment, working conditions, and protections for domestic workers across the country.
The law provides for domestic workers to be granted vocational training, health and unemployment benefits. Whilst the law does not quantify a minimum wage, it provides for a 12-month period to work out supporting regulations, including penalties for employers who flout the law. Placement agencies are prohibited from implementing wage deductions, a common exploitative practice.
It also specifically prohibits the hiring of children under 18 as domestic workers strengthening protections against child labour.
The law mandates oversight by both central and regional governments, with community-level institutions encouraged to help prevent violence against domestic workers.
"Around the world, domestic workers are undervalued, under-protected and under-represented. This is an historic opportunity to turn the tables on this neglect and to protect, respect and honour their invaluable contribution to the welfare of so many people," the High Commissioner said.
