Still no protections or ratification

Indonesia's Maids Mark Another Year in Legal Limbo
Anita Rachman | February 16, 2012 / Jakarta Globe

Indonesian domestic workers are rallying for the passage of a domestic workers protection bill and for the government to ratify the International Labor Organization Domestic Workers Convention. (Reuters File Photo)


As they commemorated their day on Wednesday, Indonesian domestic workers said they only wanted two things: for the domestic workers protection bill to be deliberated this year and the government to ratify the International Labor Organization Domestic Workers Convention.

Hundreds of domestic workers marched on Wednesday, which was National Domestic Workers Day, in the streets of Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Semarang and Yogyakarta to vocalize these demands.

Domestic workers have long been fighting for those two actions that they say are needed to protect the estimated 10.7 million maids around the country, more than the six million migrant workers abroad who receive more attention.

A study by the National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT) in 10 cities showed that maids suffered from poor treatment, received low pay and few days off and were generally overworked, often working more than 16 hours a day.

In Jakarta, Jala PRT chairwoman Lita Anggraini, along with dozens of domestic workers, rallied in front of the Presidential Palace.

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