The DPR Baleg Encourages The KIA Bill To Be Ratified Immediately For The Termination Of Women's Discrimination

Photo by Dino Januarsa on Unsplash

JAKARTA - The Legislation Body (Baleg) of the DPR encourages the process of discussing the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (KIA) to be accelerated so that it can be ratified immediately. The KIA Bill is considered to smooth the Government's program towards the 2045 Golden Generation and the termination of discrimination against women.

Member of the Legislative Council of the Republic of Indonesia, Luluk Nur Hamidah, asked that the discussion of the MCH Bill is not one-sided. He said that the KIA Bill must prioritize the interests of mothers and children.

"The government seems to be playing with what is always echoed, the golden generation, superior human resources, free stunting and others. But still half-hearted when dealing with the industry," said Luluk, Thursday (15/6/2023).

"I also read the DIM (Daftar Inventory Problem) of the Government, about leave for mothers and fathers, there is not much progress that is facultative," he continued.

In the MCH Bill, it is regulated that there will be additional leave for pregnant women and childbirth to 6 months. This bill also regulates leave for male workers whose wives give birth, or often referred to as father's leave.

The regulation also raises rejection from a number of industries, including from the Indonesian Employers' Association (APINDO), especially regarding maternity leave for female workers. The company views this will have a negative impact on the company's performance.

According to Luluk, this should not be a problem because there is another solution for the company if additional maternity leave is applied.

"Obviously it can be regulated in detail, there is no need to worry that the KIA Bill will not accommodate industrial interests," said Luluk.

Therefore, this woman who is also a member of Commission VI of the DPR emphasized that the Government must be able to take a firm stance. Luluk said the government should be able to bridge the struggle of female workers with the company.

"One solution that can be proposed by the Government is that the salaries of female workers can be charged through social security during the six-month leave," he said.

So far, rules regarding this matter are being discussed further in the Problem Inventory List.

"There is a possibility of a three-month salary paid by the state, or even the state could pay it all during leave. It's still a study," explained Luluk.

Another alternative that can be accommodated by the Government is to provide salary subsidies for companies to recruit temporary interns to replace mothers giving birth. Luluk said the solution was quite reasonable.

"If there are other considerations from industries that can be accommodated by the Government, such as funds for temporary replacement internship employees for mothers giving birth, then the government can consider subsidies from the government," he explained.

Luluk reminded that a six-month leave for female workers who give birth can have an impact on reducing stunting or malnutrition for children targeted by the Government. In addition, it can also avoid the presence of an acute blues or depression for mothers and fathers.

"There are some dangers after pregnancy and childbirth, even severe depression. So it needs sufficient assistance and leave," explained Luluk.

Meanwhile, regarding father's leave, the legislator from the Central Java IV electoral district reminded that the burden of parenting is not only on mothers. For this reason, Luluk said father leave is very important and this aspect has become a concern in developed countries.

'Child care is the responsibility of the mother and father. So father leave is also needed, especially at the beginning of the birth of the child when the mother is recovering after giving birth," he said.

Dan anak akan berkembang semakin baik apabila lingkungan dan support system juga mendukung. Apalagi ada dukungan penuh dari Negara. Karena RUU ini semangatnya memutus chain diskriminasi terhadap perempaun dan ibu, sambung Luluk.

He added that in Article 27 of the KIA Bill, it was stated that the Government was obliged to provide assistance and compensation to mothers and children who did not have the economic ability to meet basic needs. Luluk said the KIA Bill could regulate the State to help fulfill children's basic rights.

"This is in the form of providing balanced healthy and nutritious food to realize the 2045 golden generation. This is in line with the Government's program," he explained.

On the other hand, Luluk views that children who are currently in a period of growth are a portrait of the quality of the nation's future that must be maintained together. With the KIA Bill, he hopes to strengthen the understanding of all parties towards child growth as the next generation of the nation.

Luluk took the case of Balita from Samarinda, East Kalimantan, who tested positive for drugs after being given a drink by his own neighbor. He said this was a problem regarding the quality of the nation's future which must be maintained together.

"The incident in Samarinda will disrupt the child's growth and development if it is not detected. Because it is clear that drugs are one of the substances that will cause health damage in the future," said Luluk.

This incident, if left unchecked, will also interfere with the 2045 Golden Generation program. Luluk said that the cases of the next generation of the nation involved with drug abuse also occurred a lot.

"In addition, there are still many cases involving children entering the brink of a drug circle. With proper education, the role of parents will be very useful for the survival of the child's future," he said.

Therefore, Luluk hopes that the soon ratification of the KIA Bill will provide education to parents on how to be a companion to his baby so that the child's growth and development process becomes directed.

Although currently the KIA Bill is no longer being discussed in Baleg but in Commission VIII of the DPR, Luluk, who comes from the faction proposing this bill, asked for a serious commitment in improving the draft KIA Bill.

"With the KIA Bill, I hope that the Government will provide more massive education on how the role of parents in preparing the nation's generations to be more advanced, dignified and superior in education," said Luluk.

"As a proposer, we hope that there will be seriousness in the discussion of the MCH Bill which pays attention to the interests of mothers and children, including by opening discussion rooms from groups of mother and child communities," he concluded.