RI can learn from RP on workers' rights<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While Indonesia has not even formally recognized the profession
\nof domestic workers, the Philippines parliament has been
\ndiscussing powerful legislation to protect workers' rights at
\nhome and abroad.<\/p>\n
As the second-largest exporter of migrant workers in Southeast
\nAsia, the Philippines has already formulated a Comprehensive
\nRegulatory Framework for Domestic Workers, dubbed locally as the
\ndomestic workers' Magna Carta.<\/p>\n
Other countries that have already established such laws,
\ninclude South Africa and Canada. But both countries are the
\nusers of such services, not the providers.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Women's Journal (Jurnal Perempuan) in its
\nrecent edition discussed how the framework would guarantee
\ndomestic workers' rights in the Philippines and provide legal
\nprotection in all aspects of employees' working relationships.<\/p>\n
\"I've always been amazed at how the Philippines government has
\nadvocated for their workers' rights abroad. Now I understand why.
\nIt is because soon they will have a very powerful law with which
\nto protect the rights of domestic workers in their own country,\"
\nsaid MB Wijaksana, the editor of the journal.<\/p>\n
The act officially recognizes migrant worker professions,
\nprotects workers' rights, and has clauses dealing with child
\nlabor and the roles of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).<\/p>\n
The act also specifies the definitions and forms of \"hazardous
\nwork\" along with legal definitions of physical, mental and sexual
\nabuse, and ensures health treatments for workers.<\/p>\n
\"The amazing part about this law is the charter that obliges
\nemployers to register all domestic workers with a social security
\nor insurance program,\" Wijaksana told The Jakarta Post recently.<\/p>\n
The act also forms a National Task Force for Domestic Workers,
\na special body controlled directly by the president.<\/p>\n
Members on the task force would include officials from the
\nministries of manpower, social welfare and education, along with
\nrepresentatives from the courts, health agencies and the police,
\nmigrant worker companies and the Special Commission On Women's
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
The body would police the act and other regulations and
\nestablish and monitor task forces down to city level. It would
\nalso formulate \"gender-sensitive\" programs, advocate for the
\nrights of women and children and serve as migrant workers'
\nrepresentatives abroad.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Ministry of Manpower migrant worker advocate
\nMarjono said this country would follow the Philippines
\ninitiative.<\/p>\n
\"We are going to do this step by step. The first step will be
\nregistering the workers with a social security system. However,
\nboth the government and the House are still considering how to
\nprotect foreign workers at the moment, so it is likely we will
\nhave to wait for a few more years to see the results,\" he told
\nthe Post.(006)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-can-learn-from-rp-on-workers-rights-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}