Makassar – The South Sulawesi provincial government is drafting a law to ensure that maids receive a minimum wage and have the right to at least one day off a week.

The move comes as Indonesia seeks better working conditions for maids working overseas, despite failing to have national legislation in place to protect the often exploited workers.

Adil Patu, the head of the team that initiated drafting the local law, said the draft legislation was finished and was awaiting approval by a special committee. "The bylaw will give housemaids the right to take one day off every week," Adil said in Makassar.

The law also regulated working hours and sanctions for employers who violated the legislation, he told state news agency Antara on Tuesday.

Adil, from the minor United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK), said that according to the law, a housemaid would be paid a minimum salary of Rp 1 million ($118) per month, which is similar to South Sulawesi's minimum provincial wage (UMP).

"There are hardly any laws that protect housemaids even though they are often exploited and intimidated. That is why we feel compelled to protect them by enacting the bylaw," Adil said. "A maid's job has to be clarified. If she has to cook and clean, don't ask her to wash the car as well," he said.

The initiative was applauded by the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT). Jala PRT spokeswoman Umi Farida told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday that the central government should be "ashamed" that South Sulawesi had demonstrated more concern for domestic workers than it had.

"This is a blow to the central government because in the provinces, municipal governments and regional councils are really trying hard to help the poor and give them their rights," Umi said. "The central government is busy with political issues that do not have any effects on the poor. They should be ashamed of themselves."

Umi said the House of Representatives (DPR) has been discussing a bill to protect domestic workers since 2004 but it had never been passed into law.

"This is a challenge for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to finish his homework because after more than one period of his leadership, no light has been shed on the government's commitment toward housemaids," Umi said. (Antara, JG)