Minister Of PPPA: The PPRT Bill Gives Recognition As Well As Protection Of Household Workers

JAKARTA - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati revealed that the contents of the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) will provide recognition to household workers.

"When we talk about the PPRT Bill, the first is recognition of household workers, then it is protection. This protection is comprehensive not only discrimination of violence but also includes wages and so on," said Bintang at the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Wednesday, January 18, as reported by Antara.

Bintang conveyed this in a joint press conference with President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah and Deputy V of the Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Jaleswari Pramodhawardani.

"Here it will be very important if we look at the PPRT Bill, not only will we focus on protecting household workers but also on regulating employers as well as channeling workers," said Bintang.

Bintang said that the draft PPRT Bill had experienced significant developments by loading various inputs from stakeholders

Meanwhile, the Minister of Manpower Ida Fuaziah said that the PPRT Bill would also regulate social security issues for household workers.

"Including what is regulated in the PPRT Bill, protection and social security, both health and employment social security," said Ida.

Meanwhile, Deputy V of the Presidential Chief of Staff (KSP) Jaleswari Pramodhawardani said the government had created a task force to oversee the PPRT Bill.

"One of the government's tasks is chaired by the Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights and the Minister of Manpower as the 'leading sector' and we are jointly collaborating with the ministry to resolve the draft that is juxtaposed by other laws," said Jaleswari.

President Joko Widodo himself asked the DPR to accelerate the discussion of the PPRT Bill so that it becomes a law.

"To speed up the stipulation of the PPRT Law, I order the Minister of Law and Human Rights and the Minister of Manpower to immediately coordinate and consult with the DPR and with all'stakeholders'," said President Jokowi.

President Jokowi also hopes that the PPRT Law can be established immediately and provide better protection for household workers and for employers as well as for employers.

"I think basically we want to have a legal umbrella on ministerial regulations (permen) for household workers who lose their rights as workers because in practice, these workers are vulnerable to losing their rights, and I think it's time for us to have the PPRT Law," said the President.

The PPRT Bill has gone through a long road and is winding to become a law. Since 2004, the PPRT Bill has been submitted and then there are 2009 the bill has also been pushed to be passed.

In 2019, the PPRT Bill was included in the National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). Furthermore, in 2020, the DPR Legislation Body agreed that the PPRT Bill would be an initiative of the DPR, but until now the regulation has not been brought to a plenary meeting.