Only one year to draft detailed implementation of new regulations, says parliament legislation chairman Bob Hasan in Jakarta

Indonesia Passes Landmark Law to Protect Domestic Workers Published Tue, Apr 21, 2026 · 05:16 PM Indonesia’s parliament has passed a long-awaited law to protect the rights of millions of domestic workers, marking a significant step toward formal labor protections in Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The legislation, enacted during a plenary session on Kartini Day, secures entitlements to rest days, health insurance, pensions, and professional training while prohibiting wage deductions by placement agencies. For decades, Indonesia’s approximately five million domestic workers—predominantly women—have operated outside the scope of national labor laws, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation, inadequate pay, and poor working conditions. Many have worked below minimum wage without access to annual leave or standardized rest days. The new law addresses these gaps by establishing clear standards for employment conditions and mandating that regulators develop detailed implementation policies within one year. Bob Hasan, chairman of parliament’s legislation body, announced the passage in Jakarta on Tuesday, emphasizing that the bill concludes years of parliamentary debate over domestic workers’ rights. He noted that the law recognizes the vital role these workers play in supporting households and enabling broader economic participation, particularly among middle- and upper-income families. The legislation aligns with growing regional efforts to strengthen protections for domestic workers, a sector historically excluded from formal labor frameworks across Southeast Asia. By banning unauthorized wage deductions and guaranteeing access to social benefits, the law aims to reduce vulnerability to abuse and modern slavery-like conditions. Implementation will now shift to government agencies tasked with drafting operational guidelines to ensure compliance across urban and rural areas. Advocacy groups have welcomed the move as a long-overdue acknowledgment of domestic function as legitimate labor deserving of full legal protection.