Opening Remarks at the Launch of the Skills Training Programme for Domestic Workers and the Declaration of Domestic Workers Organization

By Michiko Miyamoto, Director of ILO for Indonesia and Timor-Leste at the Launch of the Skills Training Programme for Domestic Workers and the Declaration of Domestic Workers Organization

Statement | Jakarta, Indonesia | 06 August 2017
Good morning! Thank you very much for making time to attend today’s event to launch a declaration of Domestic Worker Organization of Malang Raya as well as the skill training for domestic worker in Malang. It is my second time to attend the opening skill training program for domestic workers in Malang - the first one was in October 2016 in SKB (vocational center) Malang which training was participated by 90 participants and I am happy to learn that 72 of them have completed 200 learning hours and have passed the National competency assessment. I believe that the current skill training program will also reach the level of success as the previous one.

Mr. Bupati and distinguished guests,

As we know that domestic work is an important work for many women in the world. According to the most recent estimates (2015), there is about 67.1 million domestic worker around the world of which 11.5 million are international migrant domestic workers. In Indonesia, according to the ILO study using the data from National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas) 2015, there was about 4 million domestic workers in Indonesia, and the number is increasing each year due to high demand from the middle class families. The high number of domestic workers in the world and in Indonesia shows that this profession provides support towards the sustainability of the households and in turn towards the welfare of the society.

Mr. Bupati and distinguished guests,

As we know that domestic work is an important work for many women in the world. According to the most recent estimates (2015), there is about 67.1 million domestic worker around the world of which 11.5 million are international migrant domestic workers. In Indonesia, according to the ILO study using the data from National Labour Force Survey (Sakernas) 2015, there was about 4 million domestic workers in Indonesia, and the number is increasing each year due to high demand from the middle class families. The high number of domestic workers in the world and in Indonesia shows that this profession provides support towards the sustainability of the households and in turn towards the welfare of the society.

very much for making time to attend today’s event to launch a declaration of Domestic Worker Organization of Malang Raya as well as the skill training for domestic worker in Malang. It is my second time to attend the opening skill training program for domestic workers in Malang - the first one was in October 2016 in SKB (vocational center) Malang which training was participated by 90 participants and I am happy to learn that 72 of them have completed 200 learning hours and have passed the National competency assessment. I believe that the current skill training program will also reach the level of success as the previous one.

Domestic workers have a significant contribution to societies. Domestic Workers provide valuable and often indispensable services to households. They are taking care of domestic chores; taking care of our children, elderly or sick family members, allowing many people to be aconomically active outside the households. By facilitating reconciliation between work and families responsibilities, domestic workers enable millions of women to join the labour market. Domestic work indeed represents an important source of employment, notably for some groups of workers: women, youth, migrants, low skilled and the sector generates ssubstantial income transfers within (urban – rural) and between countries (remittances).

Ironically, despite the fact that our society benefits so much from domestic workers, domestic work is among works with the worse working conditions, characterized among others by working long hours, insufficient rest period, low wage, delayed in wage payment, etc. In addition worker in this sector is highly exposed to abuses, harassment and violence given in many parts of the world the sector is poorly regulated. Such deficits of decent work among domestic workers are due to the following root causes:
  • Traditionally, domestic workers are not seen as “real” workers
  • The existing of social and gender-based undervaluation and discrimination
  • Domestic workers work “behind closed doors”
  • They lack of collective organization & representation
  • Absence of labour and social protection in many countries
  • If any regulation, Domestic Workers & employers often not familiar with applicable laws
Mr. Bupati and distinguished guests,

Promoting decent work for domestic workers requires concerted efforts, and the skills development and recognition of domestic workers skill play an important part in meeting this challenge. Skills training and certification based on nationally recognized competency-standards can help raise the status of Domestic Worker as a recognized profession, thus improving Domestic Workers’ employability and prospects for better employment.

Today’s event is to launch the second batch of skill training for Domestic Workers in Malang and I am happy to hear that Malang is progressing in developing PERBUP (Regent Regulation) on Competency Improvement for Woman Domestic Worker in Malang. This PERBUP shows a great commitment of Malang District to ensure sustainability of skill training within the framework of decent work for domestic worker. I hope the Government of Malang will extend the skill training for domestic worker programs using the local government budget to other areas of Malang.

Today's event is also meant to declare the existence of domestic worker organization of Malang Raya. As ex-chairman of KSPSI East Java, I believe Bapak Bupati is aware on the importance of worker organization to voice out their rights including for domestic worker. Hopefully, by declaring the domestic worker organization in Malang Raya in this event, domestic workers in Malang will be more motivated to organise.

In this occasion, on behalf of the ILO, allow me to extend our gratitude for the good collaboration from all parties involved in promoting decent work for domestic workers in Malang. ILO is looking forward to collaborating with all stakeholders in realising decent work for domestic workers. Thank you