They walked along Sarinah Street, Thamrin to the Horse Statue, Jakarta. Carrying banners reading ’Urging the Ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill’, they raised public awareness about the importance of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill being promptly ratified by the Indonesian Parliament.

“We have been waiting 21 years, when will this bill be passed into law? There have been many Sunarsihs in this country,” the domestic workers shouted.

Sunarsih was a child domestic worker who was tortured until she died. At that time, Sunarsih was only 14 years old. Sunarsih worked in Surabaya, East Java. Whilst working at her employer’s house, Sunarsih and 4 other domestic workers frequently experienced abuse from their employer. Sunarsih did not receive her rights as a worker: she was not paid wages, worked more than 18 hours a day, was given inadequate food, had no access to leave the house because she was locked in, and could not communicate or socialise. Sunarsih also slept on the floor of the drying area. Due to the abuse she received daily, Sunarsih died on 12 February 2001. Sunarsih’s employer was subsequently sentenced to 4 years in prison, but after appeal, this was reduced to 2 years and was never enforced. Justice has not sided with abused domestic workers.

Although it has been commemorated for years, the condition of domestic workers in Indonesia remains far from ideal. The world is currently campaigning for respect for care workers, which includes the work done by domestic workers. Much of women’s care work has never been recognised as actual work, including domestic work in homes. Care work is very time-consuming but has not been properly appreciated.

“This can be seen, for example, from our work as domestic workers who have been caring for homes and people in homes, but are only placed in low positions and paid poorly. Discrimination against women is so evident in the care work done by domestic workers,” said Darsiah, one of the domestic workers.

A mapping released by JALA PRT in 2024 shows that domestic workers in Indonesia still experience four types of violence and work intimidation: first, working in slavery-like conditions; second, living with harassment; third, living in poverty due to exclusion from social protection; and fourth, vulnerability to becoming victims of trafficking.

In this action, the domestic workers wore tea towels as a symbol of their work tools. They also distributed flowers of support for domestic workers to passing motorists.

Anipah, one of the domestic workers, said that tea towels and flowers are symbols to remind people of the important role domestic workers play in households.

“The work of domestic workers has been hidden work, often invisible, even though domestic workers are the workers who prepare food and tidy homes whilst employers are at work. This domestic work has often been overlooked.”

What is the fate of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill in Parliament after being fought for 21 years? In the final period of the 2019-2024 Indonesian Parliament leadership, the Domestic Workers Protection Bill had still not been ratified. Currently, the Civil Coalition for the Ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill, consisting of hundreds of organisations and individuals, continues to fight for the bill to be carried over to the new parliamentary leadership. Although there are many challenges to overcome. If it cannot be carried over, the bill will return to square one, and the struggle will have to start again from the beginning.

2025 marks the 21^st year of the struggle for the Domestic Workers Protection Bill to be ratified into law. This is not an easy fight, especially with the new Indonesian Parliament leadership. However, domestic workers remain optimistic about continuing the struggle for the bill to become law.

Current efforts include: conducting socialisation with new Parliament members, whilst continuing to lobby parties so that parties which previously supported the bill also provide support and influence other parties.

This event marks the importance of support for domestic workers and the significance of commemorating National Domestic Workers’ Day on 15 February as a sign of the domestic workers’ timeless struggle.

Therefore, on this National Domestic Workers’ Day 2025, domestic workers, with the support of the Civil Coalition for the Domestic Workers Protection Act, declare their position:

1. Asking the Indonesian Parliament to immediately ratify the Domestic Workers Protection Bill as a form of respect for the care work done by women, especially domestic workers.
2. Asking the government to support and encourage Parliament to immediately ratify the Domestic Workers Protection Bill.
3. Inviting the wider community to support the ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Bill.

Contact: Jumisih (0856-1612-485), Luviana (0816-4809-844)

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The Perempuan Mahardhika organisation fights for women’s freedom from all forms of violence and discrimination from oppressive culture and poverty.

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