Parliament: Domestic Workers Protection Bill to be Approved Tomorrow as Gift for Kartini Day and May Day

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad stated that the Domestic Workers Protection Bill (RUU PPRT) will be approved and enacted as law during the plenary session on Tuesday (21/4) as a gift for Kartini Day and Labour Day or May Day commemorations. “A May Day gift, Kartini Day. For tomorrow, Kartini Day,” Dasco said after attending the Level I approval meeting for the RUU PPRT at the parliamentary complex in Jakarta on Monday evening. According to him, the RUU PPRT is a “homework” assignment for DPR RI that must be completed promptly. Moreover, he noted, the bill was initiated 22 years ago but has yet to be finalised and approved by DPR. He assured that the discussion of the bill has involved significant public participation, absorbing aspirations from all relevant stakeholders in the domestic workers’ sector. “DPR and the government have certainly agreed to oversee the implementation of this law. And of course, there are some aspects that the government may add later,” he said. In addition, he mentioned that there are several other important bills that DPR RI will complete, namely the Indigenous Communities Bill, which has not been approved since its initiation 20 years ago, the Witness and Victim Protection Bill, the Manpower Bill, and the Asset Forfeiture Bill. “So, God willing, this year we may complete some that have indeed become our homework,” he said. Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas stated that the RUU PPRT, soon to be approved, brings joy to the government. For this reason, he said that President Prabowo Subianto has targeted the swift completion of the bill to meet the wishes of all labour unions. “And praise be to God, the DPR leadership and all friends in the Legislation Body have managed to complete it. This is certainly a joy for the government; the bill has finally been realised because it is a DPR initiative proposal,” Supratman said.