TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Jakarta State University lecturer, Robertus Robet, urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to pass the Bill on Domestic Workers Protection. Robertus said a strong political will is needed so that the DPR would immediately pass the bill.

"This bill has been put on hold for a long time. There is an urgency for Indonesia to have a law that protects domestic workers," Robertus, who was involved in the discussion of said bill, told Tempo on Thursday, June 17.

He also said that the Domestic Workers Bill should add a dimension of protection to domestic workers by including their health rights. "Let's not worry about articles for now and focus on pushing the DPR to pass this bill," he said.

The National Commission for Women's commissioner, Tiasri Wiandani, wants the same thing. She said that the absence of a legal umbrella that protects domestic workers' rights makes them vulnerable to gender-based violence, such as sexual violence, human trafficking, and abuse.

Domestic workers' rights are also often abandoned, such as wages, workloads, leave, rest periods, and capacity building. On the other hand, employers do not get legal certainties about their rights to employ capable domestic workers. Employers do not get a guarantee on the time of work and the security of their homes and family members under the care of domestic workers.

"The existence of a Domestic Workers Protection Act will create a decent and favorable work situation for both the domestic workers and employers," Tiasri said in a written statement.

Read: Empowered Domestic Workers

Friski Riana