Elimination of the Terms 'Helper' and 'Employer' in the Domestic Workers Protection Law

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Choiri Fauzi has emphasised that the terms “helper” and “employer” no longer apply following the enactment of the Domestic Workers Protection Law (UU PPRT).

The presence of the UU PPRT, Arifah asserted, underscores that individuals formerly often referred to as “helpers” are now regarded as workers.

“So there are no more terms like employer and helper; the terms used now are domestic worker and domestic worker provider,” Arifah stated during a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Jakarta, on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Arifah explained that the UU PPRT aligns with international mandates to provide protection for domestic workers.

Subsequent regulations from the UU PPRT will govern the basic rights of domestic workers, such as fair wages, reasonable working hours, rights to holidays or leave, access to healthy food, and social security.

“They are entitled to humane treatment free from violence and legal protection,” Arifah clarified.

“Because it will regulate that when a household or family employs a domestic worker, it must be reported to the local neighbourhood head, including the name, age, and the agreements between the domestic worker and the provider,” Arifah added.

The National Network for Domestic Worker Advocacy (JALA PRT) expressed its appreciation to the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) for finally passing the UU PPRT, which had been stalled for more than 20 years.

“Appreciation to the Baleg leadership, the task force leadership, and the government for recognising the struggles of domestic workers,” said JALA PRT Coordinator Lita Anggraini in her statement, quoted on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

Now, domestic workers, previously often called helpers or household assistants (ART), have formal recognition as workers.

“A Domestic Worker, hereinafter abbreviated as PRT, is a person who works for an employer to perform household tasks and is paid wages,” states Article 1 paragraph (1) of the UU PPRT draft.

Meanwhile, the employer in Article 1 paragraph (4) of the UU PPRT is “An individual and/or several individuals in a household who employ PRT by paying wages.”