Domestic Worker’s Testimony at DPR Hearing on Discrimination: Not Allowed to Sit on the Sofa or Use the Lift

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - A domestic worker (PRT) Wiwi Kartiwi revealed the discriminatory experiences she faced while voicing her views at a public hearing (RDPU) on the Draft Law on Protection of Domestic Workers (PPRT) in the Legislative Body (Baleg) of the Indonesian DPR RI on Thursday, 5 March 2026. Wiwi says domestic workers are still often treated differently by some employers and by the environment where they work. “There is a lot of discrimination against PRTs, such as when I need to take my employer’s child to the lobby, waiting, I mean waiting or delivering in the lobby, we are not allowed to sit on the sofa. So what, PRTs can only stand, just stand,” Wiwi said at the meeting. “Also when entering the lift. The lift is not to be treated equally. ‘Oh this you are a PRT? You cannot pass here, you must go this way’,” Wiwi added. According to Wiwi, this condition shows that domestic workers are often viewed as inferior, and thus not treated as equals. She believes such discrimination occurs because domestic work is done in private spaces that are difficult for outsiders to monitor. Wiwi also highlighted the situation of domestic workers who live with their employers or work on a live-in basis. According to her, this group is more vulnerable to social isolation. “For PRTs who work live-in, they find it very difficult to socialise or to complain to friends or family,” she said. “So it is not occasional but ongoing; they cannot access how I can meet my children or family who work abroad, live-in, but I cannot meet, let alone meet, perhaps even to call, I cannot do that,” Wiwi said. Therefore, she hopes the DPR will promptly pass the PPRT law so that domestic workers obtain clear legal protection as workers. “We work, we are paid, just like other workers, but why are we not considered workers?” Wiwi said. Read also: Labour unions meet DPR leadership, discuss labour law bills including PPRT