The Archipelago – Dozens of activists of the Domestic Workers Protection Network (JPPRT) staged a rally in front of the Yogyakarta State Palace Gedung Agung on Tuesday to demand that the government honor its promise to ratify International Labor Organization Convention No. 189 on decent work for domestic workers.

They also demanded the House of Representatives approve the bill on domestic workers. "We demand they honor their promise before their term of office ends," JPPRT's spokesperson Sayuti said on the sidelines of the rally on Tuesday.

The rally started at 9:30 am with speeches made in front of the state palace. They then marched to the nearby post office to mail parcels to the President, the House and the Manpower Ministry. Each parcel contained a mop and a duster to demonstrate their concern that the government did not pay attention to the fate of domestic workers.

Rally coordinator Moertini said that even though the government's and legislators' terms of office would soon end, they still struggled to maintain their political power instead of listening to the wishes of the people.

"President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been in office for two terms, but no action has been taken to protect the rights of domestic workers," Moertini said.