KUALA LUMPUR - Indonesia’s parliament passed a long delayed law to protect domestic workers after more than 20 years of discussion on April 21.

The bill was first proposed in 2004 to safeguard about 4.2 million domestic workers, most of whom are women, according to the Manpower Ministry.

Previously, domestic workers were not legally recognised as workers, leaving them in informal conditions and exposed to abuse and exploitation.

The law was passed during a parliamentary session marked by applause as House Speaker Puan Maharani confirmed its approval.

“The enactment of a Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers aims to provide legal certainty for both domestic workers and employers, and to prevent all forms of discrimination, exploitation, and abuse against domestic workers.

“For the government, this is a source of happiness because, as I recall, President Prabowo Subianto also expressed his wish for this bill to be completed,” Minister of Law Supratman, Andi Agtas told the plenary.

Under the new law, domestic workers will have access to training, as well as health and unemployment benefits.

“And thank God the leadership of the House of Representatives and all our colleagues at the Legislative Body of the House of Representatives were able to complete it. 

This is certainly good news for the government, as the bill has finally been realised,” he added.

The law also bans the employment of children under the age of 18 as domestic workers.

While it does not set a minimum wage, the government has 12 months to develop detailed regulations, including penalties for violations.

“It feels like a dream, this has been a 22-year struggle for us marginalised women to gain protection,” said one of the domestic workers, Ajeng Astuti.

Advocacy group Jala PRT welcomed the law, calling it a historic step forward for domestic workers’ rights.

“Most domestic workers are women workers who have been neglected all this time; now there is recognition and protection,” Jala PRT coordinator, Lita Anggraini said.

She said more efforts are needed to raise awareness among employers about their responsibilities under the new law.

The group recorded over 3,300 cases of abuse involving domestic workers between 2021 and 2024, including violence, exploitation and trafficking.

In one case in 2023, nine people in South Jakarta were jailed for abusing a young domestic worker.