REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Ministry of Manpower has urged the parliament to immediately approve the domestic workers (PPRT) law in order to protect laborers from exploitation and violent treatment at workplace.

Umar Kasim, the ministry's law division chairman, stated in Jakarta on Monday that although the bill had been submitted over a decade ago, the parliament has yet to approve the draft.

"The legislators appear to always review the draft, so after 13 years, the bill has not yet been approved," Kasim remarked.

He said the ministry has fulfilled its obligation to draft the bill.

He explained that the bill was aimed at improving relations between employers and their laborers, so that in future, the orientation of businesses will not be based solely on profits but also on the well-being of workers.

According to Kasim, the existing regulation has also not yet regulated the informal work sectors due to which any disputes between domestic workers and their employers will be settled through mediation instead of litigation.

Kasim elaborated that the draft takes into account the rights and obligations of workers and employers. Apart from these issues, the bill also cites that workers should comply with some requirements, including the minimum age, permit, and identity information before signing up for jobs.

"The workers, on the other hand, have a right to be informed about their employers. The laborers should also be able to avail a decent meal, the holiday allowance (THR), paternal-maternal leaves, and an appropriate rest time from the employers," he noted.

Moreover, the draft makes it mandatory for employers to provide a social security program to the workers.

Hence, laborers and their employers have to set a written contract that regulates the two parties' rights and obligations.

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