Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has expressed support for President Joko Widodo’s commitment to expediting the ratification of the domestic workers’ protection bill (RUU PPRT).

“Komnas HAM gives attention to vulnerable and marginalized groups that are at high risk of human rights violation, both in terms of social and cultural rights as well as civil and political rights,” coordinator of Komnas HAM’s human rights promotion sub-commission Anis Hidayah said here on Thursday.

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 or getting a salary cut), mental violence, physical violence, and sexual violence.

According to Hidayah, the commission has received many reports of human rights violations involving domestic workers within the country and Indonesian domestic workers working abroad.

The cases include non-payment of salary, loss of contact, violence, human trafficking, sexual violence, and legal disputes. The commission has also received requests for legal protection and support.

In 2021, Komnas HAM carried out a study and research on the urgency for ratifying the International Labor Organization’s (ILO’s) Convention Number 189 concerning decent work for domestic workers and the need for ratifying RUU PPRT as law.

Based on the study, the commission found that the ratification of ILO Convention Number 189 could help create a conducive human rights environment to ensure respect, protection, and rights fulfillment of domestic workers.

The ratification of the convention could also become a reference for the drafting and deliberation of RUU PPRT.

President Widodo on Wednesday said that the government is committed to and is striving for the protection of domestic workers.

According to Widodo, the number of domestic workers is estimated to have reached four million. They are vulnerable to losing their rights as workers.

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Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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