From Voluntary to Mandatory: Domestic Workers Protection Law Changes Employer-Employee Relations

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The ratification of the Domestic Workers Protection Law (UU PPRT) has elicited varied responses from users of household assistant (ART) services. The regulation requires employers to fulfil several obligations, including providing social security through BPJS Health for their workers. One user of domestic worker services, Novi (45), stated that she has no objection to registering her ART with BPJS Health. According to her, this obligation can still be managed, although it requires financial adjustments. Previously, she had not included her ART in the BPJS programme. If her worker fell ill, Novi chose to cover the medical costs directly. “So far, I haven’t covered BPJS, but if she gets sick, I cover the costs for clinic visits or buying medicine,” said Novi. Nevertheless, she does not object to registering her domestic worker for social security coverage in the future. With the new regulation, Novi realises that her expenditure patterns will change. Costs that previously only arose when needed now must be allocated routinely every month. “Usually, I only spend money when the worker at my house is sick. Now, it has to be paid every month,” she said. A similar view was expressed by Farhan (42). He plans to discuss the obligation with his family and his domestic worker. “I’ll talk to my wife later, and I’ll also ask the helper at home if she already has BPJS or not. If not, I’ll register her; if she does, I’ll just pay monthly,” Farhan revealed. “It’s better for me to set up BPJS Health than to be sued and end up in prison later; now there’s already a law,” Farhan added. Previously, Farhan had not registered his ART with BPJS because he felt the monthly salary provided was sufficient, especially since his worker does not live in the house.