Indonesia’s parliament has passed a landmark law recognizing and protecting domestic workers after more than two decades of advocacy. Until now, many domestic workers were not legally recognized as workers under national labor rules. As a result, millions worked without contracts, legal safeguards, or access to basic benefits leading to labor exploitation and modern slavery conditions for many.  

New rights include rest days, insurance and pensions 

For survivors and advocacy groups, this is an historic moment. It’s the result of a 22-year struggle for dignity and recognition. The new Domestic Workers Protection Law gives domestic workers access to key labor protections. These include health insurance, pensions and guaranteed rest days. 

One domestic worker, Ajeng Astuti, told BBC Indonesia:  

It feels like a dream, this is our 22-year struggle as marginalized women to gain protection. 

In addition to new labor protections, placement agencies will no longer be allowed to deduct wages unfairly. The law also bans the hiring of children under the age of 18 as domestic workers. 

Jumiyem, a domestic worker from Yogyakarta, said  

We’ve been longing for this [law], and now we can feel it. 

Previously, many domestic workers faced extremely harsh conditions with little to no protections. Some worked long hours for low pay. Others entered the workforce while still children. Many had no written agreements with employers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. All of these conditions contributed to a labor environment rife with modern slavery. Now that the law has passed, the government will have to step up. They have one year to create detailed regulations explaining how the law will be enforced in practice. 

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