Anita Permata, Raka Adji, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has called on the House of Representatives (DPR) to ratify the Domestic Workers' Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) to give comprehensive protection to domestic workers.

"The DPR should immediately discuss and ratify the RUU PPRT and ratify the ILO Convention 189 concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers," Komnas Perempuan member Theresia Iswarini stated when contacted on Tuesday.

Komnas Perempuan also appealed to the community and media to monitor the implementation of Law Number 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers as well as monitor and push for the ratification of the RUU PPRT.

The commission also encouraged the government to ensure that there is a monitoring mechanism that involves the public and relevant state institutions, including state human rights institutions that are integrated with the Government Regulation on the Implementation of the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

"This is to ensure the protection and fulfillment of the rights of Indonesian migrant workers, especially women," Iswarini stated.

In addition, the government is urged to involve migrant workers' organizations and their family members in formulating gender-responsive policies and programs that are related to migrant workers.

Iswarini noted that based on data from the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI), the percentage of Indonesian women migrant workers increased drastically, from 57 percent in 2014 to 70 percent in 2019, while the number of Indonesian migrant workers, in general, declined.

The percentage of Indonesian women migrant workers, who work in the informal sector, including as domestic workers, also rose, from 42 percent in 2014 to 51 percent in 2019.

"Interestingly, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the percentage of Indonesian women migrant workers who migrated increased to up to 88 percent in 2021, and especially for Indonesian women migrant workers in the informal sector, it (the percentage) increased to 77 percent in 2021," she expounded.

She remarked that despite the number of Indonesian women migrant workers having continued to increase, gender-based violence and discrimination against Indonesian migrant workers continue to occur, even after the ratification of Law Number 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers.

Based on Komnas Perempuan's record, some 813 cases of violence against Indonesian women workers had occurred from 2016 to 2022.

Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/266702/commission-urges-dpr-to-pass-domestic-workers-protection-bil