TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Dede Yusuf, Chief of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR) said that domestic workers must improve their competencies to be able to compete in the ASEAN Economic Community. Dede said that domestic workers is one of the jobs that can be taken over by foreign workers from other ASEAN countries, such as Vietnam and the Philippines.

"We have to be prepared by improving our competencies," said Dede Yusuf on Monday, February 15, 2016.

Dede also noted that there has to be a regulation on domestic workers. "The regulation essentially aims to protect [domestic workers] and improve their competencies," said Dede, adding that domestic workers should be certified in cooking and housekeeping.

Dede explained that Commission IX agreed to include a draft bill on domestic workers in the 2016 National Legislative Program. "We also want to push this draft bill to become a [law]," said Dede, adding that domestic workers also include drivers, gardeners and baby sitters.

For Indonesian domestic workers working overseas, Dede said that Commission IX is drafting a regulation to protect Indonesian migrant workers. "We have to protect workers in Indonesia and overseas," Dede said.

REZKI ALVIONITASARI