Parliament Approves Domestic Workers Protection Law, Sari Yuliati: We Restore the Dignity of Millions of Domestic Workers
Indonesia’s House of Representatives has officially approved the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) during today’s plenary session. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sari Yuliati, emphasised that this approval represents an ideological victory for Indonesian women, especially coinciding with Kartini Day, which is synonymous with the struggle for women’s emancipation and justice.
The approval of the PPRT Bill ends the long wait for justice among all female domestic workers in Indonesia. Substantively, the PPRT Law constitutes a political step towards recognition, redistribution, and real representation for female domestic workers.
“Today, we are not only approving a law, but we are restoring the dignity of millions of Domestic Workers (PRT). Coinciding with Kartini Day, the state is giving a real gift in the form of legal certainty for those who have worked in silence without protection,” said Sari, in a written statement on Wednesday (22/4/2026).
The PPRT Law regulates the protection of workers based on the principles of family spirit, respect for human rights, justice, welfare, and legal certainty.
In its implementation, the recruitment of PRT can be carried out directly or through Domestic Worker Placement Companies (P3RT), either offline or online, with the requirement to have legal entity status and official permission from the government.
This law also guarantees PRT’s rights to social security for health and employment, as well as access to education and vocational training for prospective workers. P3RT is strictly prohibited from making any wage deductions to ensure decent economic protection for workers.
“There should no longer be practices that harm and degrade the dignity of domestic workers. The state is present to ensure their rights are fully protected,” she asserted.
Supervision of PRT services will be carried out by central and regional governments, involving the community through neighbourhood associations (RT/RW) to prevent violence.
In addition, this law still recognises the rights of workers who have been employed before the rules come into effect and mandates the preparation of implementing regulations at the latest one year after promulgation.
“This Kartini Day momentum must serve as a reminder that the struggle for equality is not yet over. Through this law, we affirm our commitment to continue protecting and empowering domestic workers as an important part of national development. From today onwards, we are all workers; there is no more term like assistant or other degrading views,” Sari concluded.