The MCH Bill Is Officially An Initiative Of The DPR, Puan Maharani: Guidelines For The Next Generation To Become Excellent Human Resources

JAKARTA - The Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (RUU KIA) has been ratified into a House of Representatives (DPR) initiative bill in the plenary meeting, Thursday, June 30. Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, said that this bill was intended so that children as the nation's next generation could grow and develop properly.

"The Maternal and Child Welfare Bill is a breakthrough by the House of Representatives (DPR) with the hope that this bill will become a guideline for the state to ensure that the next generation of the nation has good growth and development so that they become superior human resources", said Puan to reporters at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday, June 30.

According to Puan, the MCH Bill is closely related to stunting prevention, which is still a problem in Indonesia. One of the efforts to prevent stunting is through the initiation of maternity leave for working mothers for 6 months.

"Through sufficient maternity leave, mothers are expected to maximally provide breast milk to their babies, which is the first step in providing nutrition to prevent stunting", she said.

In addition, continued Puan, the MCH Bill also proposes 40 days of paternity leave for male workers whose wives have just given birth. This bill emphasizes the importance of providing targeted, integrated, and sustainable maternal and child welfare, including the support of their own families.

"Through this bill, we will give husbands a flexible role to jointly be responsible for their early growth and development by giving husbands sufficient leave when their wives give birth", explained Puan.

Puan said that the MCH Bill also ensures that mothers and children get special facilities in public facilities and infrastructure. One of them is the obligation for public facilities and offices to provide child care or daycare for their employees.

"Because in its current development, daycare is very much needed by married couples who work", he said.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture understands the dynamics related to the proposal for 6 months of maternity leave for mothers and paternity leave, especially for entrepreneurs. However, Puan assessed that the MCH Bill would not conflict with other existing laws.

"Regarding attitudes or opinions from the perspective of entrepreneurs, later please participate in discussing and providing input to the DPR. This principle is for the good and the future of our children. I'm sure there will be a meeting point", said Puan.

On the other hand, Puan also congratulated the legalization of the results of the feasibility test of 2 candidates for Supreme Court Justices and 2 candidates for ad hoc Corruption Court judges at the Supreme Court. They are Candidate for Supreme Court Justice of the Civil Chamber, Nani Indrawati, Candidate for Supreme Court Justice of the Special Administrative Court for Taxes Cerah Bangun, Candidate for Ad Hoc Corruption Judge Agustinus Purnomo Hadi, and Candidate for Ad Hoc Corruption Judge Arizon Mega Jaya.

"The fit and proper test have been carried out to fill the vacant positions of Supreme Court Justices and ad hoc Corruption Judges at the Supreme Court. The DPR has carried out all the processes so that the selected candidates are proper candidates and according to their needs", explained Puan.

"Congratulations to the four selected candidates. Hopefully, they can carry out their duties with trust", she concluded.