February 24, 2026 | 01:47 pm
The Domestic Workers Protection Bill has been stalled for years. The president’s promise is overdue.
TWENTY-TWO years after it was proposed, the Domestic Workers Protection Bill is still stuck in the House of Representatives. Now, shortly after National Domestic Workers Day on February 15, 2026, it is worth reminding President Prabowo Subianto of his promise to pass the bill.
On Labor Day, May 1, 2025, Prabowo promised that the Domestic Workers Protection Bill would be finalized in no more than three months. The year has changed, but this promise has yet to be realized. Legal certainty regarding protection guarantees for those who work as “domestic assistants” remains nil.
Until now, domestic workers have not been accommodated in the Manpower Law. According to the Ministry of Manpower, there were 4.2 million domestic workers as of November 2025. But their position is vulnerable.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) even recorded that the number of domestic workers reached 4 million in 2015. Meanwhile, the National Commission on Violence Against Women estimates that more than 5 million people work in this sector. The majority of domestic workers are women, including those who are still underage.
The protection of domestic workers is increasingly urgent because they are often vulnerable to violence, with the number of cases increasing each year. There were fewer than 500 cases in 2019, but a year later, the number spiked to 900.
In fact, the National Network for Domestic Worker Advocacy (Jala PRT) logged 3,308 cases in 2021 to 2024, ranging from physical to psychological violence. It is not uncommon for them to become victims of human trafficking. The data released by Jala PRT could be just the tip of the iceberg because many domestic workers who fall victim are reluctant to make a report.
The Domestic Workers Protection Law can reduce abuse and prevent exploitation. So far, domestic workers have been squeezed for every drop of their sweat.
They work seven days a week with heavy workloads and little rest. Their wages are low. Statistics Indonesia noted in 2022 that the average monthly wage of domestic workers was only Rp437,000. In addition, they can be dismissed at any time.
The Domestic Workers Protection Law not only benefits workers but also employers. The legislation ensures that employers receive work results in line with the agreement.
There are other benefits. With work contracts stipulated in the legislation, the risk of disputes between employers and workers can be reduced. The rights and obligations of employers are also guaranteed. Employers are also protected from unscrupulous labor brokers, as they will deal directly with domestic workers.
A clear regulation can ensure that domestic workers are treated more humanely. Therefore, we need to keep reminding the government of its promise to pass the bill.
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