RI domestic helpers still vulnerable to forced labor: ILO

Adianto P. Simamora ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 05/19/2009

According to a UN report, domestic helpers were the group most vulnerable to forced labor in Indonesia, where individuals were often forced to work overtime, earning less than Rp 300,000 (US$30) a month, in the absence of laws to protect them.

A study on forced labor by the International Labor Organization (ILO) says many countries including Indonesia have yet to issue policies to protect domestic helpers from exploitation.

"Domestic workers, especially women, are the group at particular risk of forced labor because of their isolated circumstances within private homes," Albert Bonasahat, ILO's National Coordinator for Migrant Worker Protection, told reporters on Tuesday.

"In many cases, they [domestic helpers] are not protected by national labor laws."

In 2005, the Indonesian government had drafted a bill for the protection of domestic helpers, however, it remains unclear as to why the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry have yet to submit the draft to the House of Representatives for deliberation.

"We don't know why the government has halted discussions on the draft of the domestic helper protection law," Albert said. According to the report there are currently between 2.5 and 3 million domestic helpers in Indonesia.

In the absence of laws, employees often demand domestic helpers work longer – up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week, Albert said.

"This overtime is not remunerated at higher rates than regular working hours. All these forms of unpaid or underpaid "excessive work" should be taken into account when estimating the total cost of coercion," Albert said