Indonesia approves historic law for 4.2 million domestic workers

Tuesday 21 April 2026 - 11:45

Indonesia’s parliament has passed a landmark law granting stronger legal protections to domestic workers, marking a historic step for an estimated 4.2 million people employed in households across the country.

The legislation, debated for more than two decades, introduces key protections such as access to health insurance, unemployment benefits, and formal vocational training. It also explicitly bans the employment of children under the age of 18 in domestic work, a practice that has remained widespread in parts of the country.

Officials say the reform aims to provide legal certainty for both workers and employers while reducing discrimination, exploitation, and abuse in a sector that has long operated informally. Indonesia’s Justice Minister Supratman Andi Agtas welcomed the decision, describing it as a major step toward safeguarding vulnerable workers.

The law was adopted with strong parliamentary support, prompting applause in the chamber. It requires domestic worker recruitment agencies to register legally and prohibits salary deductions by intermediaries. However, it does not establish a national minimum wage, leaving compensation rules to future regulations expected within 12 months.

Advocacy groups have long highlighted widespread abuses in the sector. Reports from civil society organizations have documented thousands of cases of physical and psychological mistreatment in recent years, underscoring the urgency of reform.

The new framework represents a major shift for Indonesia, where domestic workers have historically lacked formal labor protections, leaving many exposed to exploitation in the informal economy.