Solidaritas.net, Jakarta – In order to celebrate International Domestic Workers’ Day on June 16, 2015, Indonesians Resistance Center (PPRI) held a protest against the Government of Indonesia in front of DPR (People’s Representative Council)/ MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly) Building , on Tuesday (16/6/2015). PPRI fought for equality of rights and utmost protections for every domestic workers of Indonesia that work overseas.
The action was followed by 75 masses derive from various organizations, namely, Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI/ Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia), Solidarity Alliance for Labor Struggle (GSPB/ Gabungan Solidaritas Perjuangan Buruh), and Students’ Struggles Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan). There were also representatives from Indonesians’ Struggle Union (SPRI/ Serikat Perjuangan Rakyat Indonesia) and Solidaritas.net Association that participated in the demonstration.
The masses started the protest on 11.00 WIB. It was led by the field coordinator, Nisma Abdullah from SBMI. At first, they delivered the action in front of the right-side gate of DPR/ MPR Building then they were moving to the left-side gate. Unfortunately, the security forces were not showing an hostile demeanor by closing the gates.
“Two people represented the masses, they were Nisma and Ata. They were entering the hall and lobbying in order to meet the Commission XI of Legislative Assembly, but they didn’t get to meet them. They got information about the members of Commission XI instead, that were currently making a visit to West Nusa Tenggara,” explained Ramches Merdeka, the Vice Chairman of National Management Council (DPN) of SBMI to Solidaritas.net, on Thursday, June 18, 2015.
In the protest itself, they conveyed several demands to the Government of Indonesia and the people’s representatives. Their demands were shown on the banners and posters that they brought to the demonstration, such as ‘Domestic workers are also workers, legitimize the Law on Domestic Workers!’, ‘Reject a Memorandum of Understanding – Remove the treaty, convert into an Agreement’, ‘Release Indonesian Domestic Workers from the death penalty threat’, ‘Give reasonable wage and rights to Indonesian Domestic Workers according to their placement country’, and ‘Serve an eternal protection for Indonesian Domestic Workers, Reject Social Security Administrative Bodies (BPJS)’.
They also had an oration to deliver the demands of Indonesian Domestic Workers (BMI). Even Nurani, a former Indonesian Domestic Worker who previously worked in Kuwait – who was tortured by her employer which led to a disablement and didn’t get her wages paid for about 10 year – also did commit an oration.
“Nuraini only able to confess her wishes and prayers to The God for her recovery and get paid for her 10 years unpaid wages during her worktime in Kuwait,” told Ramches.
Around 13.00 WIB, the protesters left the DPR/MPR Building, but then continued their action in front of Ministry of Manpower (Kemenaker) Building, at Gatot Subroto Street, Jakarta. In this action, the representatives of the masses were approved by the Indonesian Manpower Protection Section. This Section of Ministry of Manpower was pledged to bring Nuraini immediately to the hospital within a week and follow-up her demand concerning her wages. Beside, they approved the masses’ demand regarding the legitimation of Law on Domestic Workers.
Source: Solidaritas.net Bahasa Indonesia