Rights for Domestic Workers in Indonesia -- and Everywhere!

Domestic workers are among the most exploited groups of workers globally. At the same time, many countries exclude domestic workers from labor law protections. For example, in Malaysia, there are hundreds of thousands of domestic workers, many of whom are migrants from Indonesia, and labor legislation does not protect them. These workers are subjected to numerous horrific abuses.

As Human Rights Watch (HRW) noted in a report, "Indonesian migrant domestic workers in Malaysia encounter a wide range of human rights abuses in the workplace, including extremely long hours of work without overtime pay; no rest days; incomplete and irregular payment of wages; psychological, physical, and sexual abuse; poor living conditions; restrictions on their freedom of movement and ability to practice their religion; and in some cases, trafficking into situations of forced labor."

The governments of Malaysia and Indonesia have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to the migration of domestic workers, but as Human Rights Watch points out, even the proposed revisions of the MOU fail to include critical labor rights protections like a guaranteed minimum wage, the ability to leave the workplace for a weekly day off, a complaint mechanisms for workers whose rights are abused, protection of the right to organize and limitations on hours of work. HRW's letter to the governments of Malaysia and Indonesia provides a number of recommendations for an agreement that would be a step toward securing rights for migrant domestic workers.

Decent work for domestic workers globally will be receiving a considerable amount of attention in the coming year as the International Labor Organization has made this sector a major focus for 2010 and is seeking feedback on a potential new international convention related to domestic work.

The US is in no way immune to the severe exploitation of domestic workers or a lack of appropriate legal protections for these workers. The struggle to change conditions for domestic workers in the U.S. is largely being led by an inspiring national network of grassroots activists called the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). NDWA states is fighting to improve labor conditions; "win respect and justice from employers and government for exploited domestic workers; change the racism and sexism that has led to the persistent devaluing of this labor"; include domestic works in protective laws; and "continue a brave legacy of resistance by supporting movement-building among domestic workers and other communities and workers in struggle. " Quite an exciting mission!

In addition, a large percentage of domestic workers globally are women, and with International Women's Day approaching this Monday, March 8th, it is a great opportunity to advocate for the rights of domestic workers.

Photo credit: ahmadzamri