The PPRT Bill has not been passed for over 19 yearsJakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) called on the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) to expedite the discussion on the Protection of Domestic Workers (PPRT) Bill, so it can be immediately passed as law.
"To expedite the stipulation of the PPRT Law, I have instructed the Law and Human Rights Minister as well as the Manpower Minister to immediately coordinate and consult with the DPR and all stakeholders," he remarked here on Wednesday.
The president made the statement during a press conference at the Merdeka Palace, accompanied by Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Minister Bintang Puspayoga, and Deputy V of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Jaleswari Pramodhawardani.
"I and all ranks of the government are committed and striving to provide protection for domestic workers," the president stated.
It is estimated that Indonesia has four million domestic workers, and they are vulnerable to losing their rights as workers, Jokowi noted.
"The PPRT Bill has not been passed for over 19 years. The current applicable Labor Law in Indonesia does not specifically and explicitly regulate (the protection of) domestic workers," he pointed out.
Jokowi expects that the domestic workers protection bill can be passed soon and provide better protection for domestic workers as well as for employers and recruiters.
"Our focus is to have a legal umbrella for ministerial regulations for domestic workers, who have lost their rights as workers because in reality, these workers are prone to losing their rights. Thus, I think it is time for us to realize the PPRT Law,” he explained.
PPPA Minister Bintang Puspayoga stated that the PPRT Bill had become an initiative bill of the House, so the government is awaiting its passing.
"The government, as stated by the president, is committed to overseeing (the stipulation of the PPRT Law) (as well as) to providing protection and recognition to domestic workers," she remarked.
She expressed optimism that the bill would be completed during the current sitting period of the parliament.
The minister also expected that the president's statement would encourage all stakeholders to collaborate to expedite the stipulation of the law.
"Hopefully, it will be an encouragement to provide the best (protection) to our fellow domestic workers," she noted.
The PPRT Bill has been proposed since 2004. Furthermore, in 2019, the bill was included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas).
The House’s Legislation Body had agreed in 2020 that the bill would be an initiative bill of the DPR, but it had yet to be taken to a plenary meeting until now.
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Translator: Desca Natalia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Sri Haryati
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