Indonesia’s House of Representatives (DPR) has finally approved the domestic workers’ protection bill (PPRT bill) as an initiative bill. The PPRT bill, which has been in the works since 2004, will provide legal protection for domestic workers in the country, including those employed abroad as migrant workers, who have suffered violence and other forms of abuse at their workplace. The bill’s approval has been welcomed by several community elements, including the National Advocacy Network for Domestic Workers (JALA PRT) and the Institute Sarinah. The Chairperson of the PPRT Bill Work Committee, Willy Aditya, said the bill would begin deliberations by the DPR and government before being ratified as law. Komnas Perempuan, Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence Against Women, has submitted the problem inventory list (DIM) of the PPRT bill to the government, which will anticipate modern slavery practices, protect female-dominated professions, and provide legal certainty for domestic workers.
