R. D. Marthen L.P. Jenarut, representing the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference, expressed full support for the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill, noting that domestic workers are a group vulnerable to manipulation, arbitrary treatment, and exploitation. They believe that the work of religious institutions such as the Bishops’ Conference is not solely concerned with spiritual matters, but simultaneously addresses social and humanitarian issues.

“The Indonesian Catholic Church always stands with anyone to show solidarity on issues like this because the principles in Indonesian Catholic teaching always refer to several core values. The first is that every activity and matter must adhere to principles that uphold human dignity, justice, solidarity, and welfare. That is the moral ethical principle always offered by the Catholic Church,” added Father Marthen.

In agreement with Father Marthen, Reverend Ethika S., representing the Communion of Churches in Indonesia (PGI), expressed that the foundation of their belief is that every human being is a noble creature created by God.

“What we call homo imago dei, ’humans are the noble image of God’. Certainly, the humans in question include our brothers and sisters who work as domestic workers. Then, the Church is also, according to the mandate of Scripture, called to have sensitivity and concern for those who are poor, humble, weak, and marginalised.”

“Indeed, it would be best to begin with the awareness of recognising that they are workers. As workers, recognition of their most basic rights is certainly needed: Do they have employment contracts, humane working hours, legal protection and social protection? That is why PGI encourages these very basic rights through the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill.”

PGI will also undertake pastoral action to build strong and resilient families in line with the state’s family-based aspirations, as domestic workers make an important contribution to creating healthy and resilient families.

PP Aisyiyah appreciates the coalition team that continues to oversee the Domestic Workers Protection Bill, thus fighting for human rights values and justice.

“As mentioned in a Hadith, ’Give workers their wages before their sweat dries.’ (Narrated by Ibn Majah). Aisyiyah believes that injustice against domestic workers is a form of structural oppression that must be eliminated through policies that favour vulnerable groups,” explained Dr Ummu Salamah (PP Aisyiyah).

In addition to pushing for the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill by Parliament, Aisyiyah also encourages Muslims to treat domestic workers in accordance with religious teachings.

“To Muslims, Aisyiyah invites them to treat domestic workers fairly, as Prophet Muhammad treated workers in his home with compassion. Fighting for the rights of domestic workers is a social jihad as Islam teaches to defend the oppressed,” urged Ummu.

Similarly, Nur Achmad, a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) caretaker in Bogor and also a member of the Indonesian Women Ulema Congress Assembly (KUPI), proclaimed that Islam affirms that humanity must be valued, as written in the Quran Surah Al-Isra’ verse 70, Surah At-Taubah verse 105, and Surah An-Nahl verse 97.

“Workers, whatever type of work they do, including domestic workers, are in noble professions that must be given appreciation, safety guarantees, welfare guarantees, protection guarantees, whether for economic, religious, or personal matters as humans, must be provided by all parties.”

KUPI rejects any justification for oppression, deprivation of economic rights, dignity rights, social rights, rights to personal safety and dignity, as well as human slavery, oppression, sexual harassment, and sexual violence against domestic workers that we can still find on a daily basis.

In addition to religious institutions, civil society organisations that are part of the Civil Coalition for the Domestic Workers Protection Act also reminded about the urgent struggle for the ratification of the bill, which in the previous administration had already reached the stage of problem inventory list (DIM) and received a presidential letter from the 7^th President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo.

Jumisih, Advocacy Staff of JALA PRT, regretted the case of violence against a domestic worker in Kelapa Gading that occurred two days ago. It adds to the long list of cases of violence against domestic workers. She hopes the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill can reduce the risk of power-based violence perpetrated by employers against domestic workers in the future.

She emphasised that the principle of employment agreements in the bill “is not as frightening as publicised”. The Domestic Workers Protection Bill will not only favour domestic workers but also employers. Adding to Jumisih’s point, Eka Ernawati, a representative from the Indonesian Women’s Coalition (KPI), believes that the ratification of the bill can help with the data collection of domestic workers by employers. She highlighted the ongoing problem that data collection in neighbourhood associations (RT) does not yet include information about who and where someone works as a domestic worker.

Fanda Puspitasari from the Indonesian National Student Movement (GMNI) urged Parliament to use Valentine’s Day as a momentum to show their solidarity and love for oppressed people, including through the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill.

Ajeng Pangesti, as a representative of Perempuan Mahardhika, criticised the family element that is often used to lower wages, impose unlimited working hours, and also to cover up the disgrace of violence committed by employers against domestic workers.

Besides Parliament, Ajeng spotlighted the work of the Prabowo-Gibran administration in their first 100 days, which has invited much criticism, especially the lack of serious response to ongoing violence and femicide. Instead, the government is busy with statements about palm oil expansion, budget efficiency, and the Free Nutritious Meal programme, which does not at all address the vulnerable conditions of domestic workers.

At the end of the previous parliamentary period, the Domestic Workers Protection Bill was announced as a draft to be carried over. Therefore, JALA PRT urges all legislative members of Parliament for the 2024-2029 period, especially in Commission XIII, which oversees Regulatory Reform and Human Rights, to provide support for the ratification of the bill without any reason for delay.

JALA PRT and the Indonesian Women’s Coalition state that they are very open-minded if there are legislative members who need further explanation and urgency regarding the ratification of the bill, working hours, classification of types of work, social protection, and concerns about the wages of domestic workers written in the draft regulations. Perempuan Mahardhika also urges the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill by Parliament, which cannot be denied again with reasons such as “just learning”, “just 100 days of work”, or “don’t understand yet” because many domestic workers have already become victims.

This press conference is one part of the 2025 National Domestic Workers’ Day Commemoration Week: an open mic with cross-party members of Parliament (12^th February), a YouTube live discussion on the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (13^th February), a press conference (14^th February), and a march with domestic workers from Sarinah to Aspirasi Park, Jakarta (15^th February).

National Domestic Workers’ Day is a commemoration that was established in 2007 as a reflection on the violence against child domestic worker Sunarsih, aged 14, in 2001. She was a victim of forced trafficking in Surabaya, experiencing multiple layers of violence, until it led to her death.

Documentation: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/102qUGsOOJFlOLAcIckeNT-NfOYMnEWkr

Contacts:
Jumisih (0856-1612-485)
Ajeng (0811-1313-760)
Dila (0821-2000-6804)