Komnas Perempuan Encourages The PPRT Bill To Be Ratified To Prevent The Exploitation Of Domestic Workers

Documentation of household assistants (PRT) at one of the service providers for labor distribution in Jakarta, Friday, June 8, 2018. (ANTARA PHOTO-Galih Pradipta)

JAKARTA - The National Commission (Komnas) Against Violence Against Women mentions the importance of ratifying the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) to protect employers and household workers from exploitation.

"When the PPRT Law is passed, which is protected by workers and employers. If it has not been ratified, employers are disappointed with the quality of their household workers, as well as domestic workers who are still experiencing a lot of exploitation, so we encourage the DPR to immediately ratify or at least discuss the PPRT Bill," said Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Veryanto Sitohang in a media meeting in Jakarta, Friday 19 July, confiscated by Antara.

He explained, based on Komnas Perempuan's annual record data, it was recorded that throughout 2019-2023 there were 25 cases related to domestic violence that were reported to Komnas Perempuan, while in 2020, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) found 15 percent of children trapped in the form of worst jobs were child workers.

"The last two cases in 2023-2024 show the domestic situation of children not only experiencing economic exploitation, but also sexual exploitation, as well as forms of torture that end without legal proceedings due to the revocation of reports from their parents or guardians," he said.

He emphasized that the ratification of the PPRT Law was able to provide a clear legal umbrella for employers and workers so that they could get social security that could protect them from exploitation.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chairperson of Komnas Perempuan Olivia Chadidjah Salampessy said, KPAI has been struggling for 20 years to advocate for the PPRT Bill to be ratified immediately in the DPR. The advocacy is carried out in three forms, either substantially, campaign or lobbying.

"This shows the seriousness of the National Human Rights Institute (LNHAM) that the 20 years are not for delays. We have also provided a list of problem inventory (DIM) submitted to the DPR, so we hope that there will be good faith from the DPR RI to follow up, at least it will be discussed regarding the contents of the DIM," Olivia said.

According to him, women and children have been the most vulnerable victims of exploitation, so that LNHAM through Komnas Perempuan, Komnas HAM, KPAI, and the National Commission for Disabilities (KND) encourages the DPR RI to immediately ratify the PPRT Bill in the remaining two months of work.

"Every meeting with factions, we always hope that the steps we have taken will be discussed immediately, because Komnas Perempuan has an interest in supporting the protection of women from acts of discrimination and violence. Komnas Perempuan has made various efforts by the DPR RI for the 2019-2024 period to immediately discuss, stipulate, and ratify the PPRT Bill into law," he said.

Previously, in May 2023, the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziyah stated that the government had completed the discussion of the Problem Inventory List (DIM) of the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT). The DIM of the PPRT Bill includes 367 DIM, consisting of 239 DIM body trunks and 128 DIM explanations.

"The DIM we discussed was 238 DIM, which finally after we discussed it became 367 DIM," said the Minister of Manpower.

According to the Minister of Manpower, the increase in the number of DIMs from 238 to 367 is inseparable from the results of coordination with across ministries or institutions, as well as the results of absorption of aspirations.