TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Congress Alliance of Indonesian Labor Unions (KASBI) chairwoman Nining Elitos opined that drafts of the omnibus law on job creation neglected women's reproductive rights.

The bill amended a number of special leave or permit provisions stipulated in Law No. 13/2003 on Manpower.

Among the changes is the removal of leave for women on their first-day of menstruation.

In addition, the new policy also removed the provisions of leave for marriage purposes, organizing marriage, circumcision, baptism of children, giving birth or having a miscarriage, and the passing of a family member, as noted in Article 93 of the Labor Law.

“Female workers are getting further away from having their reproductive rights,” said Ningsih to Tempo on Friday, February 14.

Article 93 stipulated that employers are obliged to pay the workers’ wages if they do not perform work due to sickness, while for female workers due to menstrual period on the first and second day.

Meanwhile, the drafts of the omnibus law outlined that businesses will only be obliged to pay the wages of workers on four conditions, including having other activities outside the job under permission of the employers, carrying out a promised job but canceled because of the employers’ mistake, and taking their rights to have a rest period or leave.

"Many articles are omitted. By means, the bill favors the interest of the businesses and set aside workers’ rights, humanity, and labor protection. This is far from decent work, decent living,” Nining remarked.

DEWI NURITA