Jakarta. Indonesia’s parliament has passed a long-awaited law to protect domestic workers, marking a historic breakthrough after more than two decades of advocacy for stronger legal safeguards.

The House of Representatives (DPR) approved the Domestic Workers Protection Bill into law during a plenary session on Tuesday, coinciding with Kartini Day.

Bob Hasan, head of the DPR’s Legislative Body, described the passage as a milestone moment for workers’ rights in Indonesia.

“This law keeps Kartini’s spirit of empowerment alive and turns it into a beacon of protection for domestic workers,” he said, referencing RA Kartini, the national heroine associated with women’s emancipation.

The new law consists of 12 chapters and 37 articles, outlining a framework to regulate recruitment, working conditions, and protections for millions of domestic workers across the country — many of whom have historically operated in the informal sector without legal safeguards.

Key provisions include access to social security programs such as health and employment insurance, as well as the right to vocational education and training. The law also requires recruitment agencies to be licensed and prohibits them from deducting workers’ wages.

Vice Speaker Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said the government will soon issue implementing regulations to detail provisions such as social security coverage and potential pension schemes for domestic workers.

“We will regulate it further through government regulations,” Dasco said, adding that lawmakers would propose that the state contribute to pension guarantees.

He said criminal sanctions related to abuse or exploitation are already covered under existing laws, rather than being detailed within the new legislation.

The law also mandates oversight by both central and regional governments, with community-level institutions encouraged to help prevent violence against domestic workers.

Recruitment can be conducted either directly by employers or through licensed agencies, while individuals assisting households in informal or familial contexts, such as relatives or those involved in religious or educational arrangements, are excluded from the law’s scope.

The passage of the law follows years of debate and negotiation between the government and parliament, with lawmakers describing discussions as “constructive” in reaching consensus on key provisions.

Officials said implementing regulations must be finalized within one year of the law’s enactment.

Advocates have long pushed for such legislation, citing widespread vulnerability among domestic workers, including risks of exploitation, lack of legal protection, and limited access to social benefits.

Add as a preferred source on Google +