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Indonesia passes Domestic Workers Protection Law after 22-year struggle
Indonesia's parliament approved a law to protect the rights of domestic workers, addressing a 22-year campaign. The law grants health insurance, rest days, and pensions, bans wage deductions by placement agencies, and prohibits hiring children under 18. Regulators will draft implementation policies within a year.
Why It Matters
The law formally recognises domestic workers as protected workers for the first time, addressing long-standing informal and abusive conditions. Further reforms and enforcement are still needed to ensure compliance and public education for employers.
Timeline
5 Events
Implementation policies to be drafted
April 22, 2026
Regulators will have one year to draft detailed implementation policies following the law's passage.
Domestic Workers Protection Law passes parliament
April 22, 2026
Indonesia's parliament passed the Domestic Workers Protection Law to protect the rights of domestic workers. The law entitles health insurance, rest days and pensions, and makes it illegal for placement agencies to deduct wages or for employers to hire children under 18.
Violence data highlighted by rights group
2024
The Jala PRT rights group reported more than 3,300 cases of violence against domestic workers from 2021 to 2024, including physical and psychological abuse.
Parliamentary discussions halted and revived
2020
Discussions on the bill were halted for years before being brought up again in Parliament in 2020.
Introduction of Domestic Workers Protection Law
2004
The Domestic Workers Protection Law was first introduced in Indonesia in 2004 as the initial attempt to regulate protections for domestic workers.