MPR Deputy Speaker: PPRT Bill protects society from the threat of a crisis

Jakarta — Deputy Speaker of the MPR RI, Lestari Moerdijat, said the passage of the Rancangan Undang-Undang tentang Perlindungan Pekerja Rumah Tangga (PPRT) into law needs to be expedited to protect society from the threat of crisis. “Immediately passing the PPRT Bill into law is part of realising a system of protection for marginal groups most affected by the dynamics of the current economic volatility,” she said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.

According to her, global economic volatility stemming from the US–Iran conflict is starting to be felt domestically, with marginal groups that are vulnerable to the impact, such as domestic workers, being particularly affected. She noted that these vulnerable groups must receive priority protection from the various impacts of the crisis.

Based on data from the National Network for the Advocacy of Domestic Workers (JALA PRT) covering 2021–2024, 3,308 reports of violence against domestic workers were recorded. The figure, she said, should spur collective concern to address it promptly by providing comprehensive protection for domestic workers.

Moreover, she continued, discussions on the PPRT Bill have in fact been ongoing for 22 years, since it was submitted to the DPR and entered the prolegnas in 2004. A member of the DPR RI Commission X argued that expediting the passage of the PPRT Bill is currently one solution for the country to protect marginal groups that dominate domestic workers.

Therefore she urged all parties to actively foster a spirit of solidarity as fellow citizens in building a system capable of protecting every citizen, including domestic workers.

Earlier, on Tuesday (3/3), Deputy Speaker of the DPR, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, stated that the DPR would soon begin a public hearing (RDPU) related to the Employment Bill and the PPRT Bill. The DPR agreed to involve labour unions and employer associations fully in the discussions of the Employment Bill and the PPRT Bill.