Bahasa Malay version here

Chair, Parliamentary Commission IX
House of People’s Representatives
Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning
Kompleks Gedung Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat
Jl. Gatot Subroto
Senayan
Jakarta, 10270, Indonesia
Fax: +62-21-5756045

Dear Dr. Ribka Tjiptaning,

I am writing to raise my concern that domestic workers in Indonesia are not recognized legally as workers and do not enjoy all the rights that are provided for in international law and standards.

I understand that the Parliamentary Commission IX is responsible for the initial debate and amendment to the draft Domestic Workers bill.

I appeal to you that consider the inclusion of provisions that respect human rights including:

• Provisions relating to reasonable limitation of working hours through clearly defined maximum hours of work in 24 hours and per week;
• Clearly defined weekly rest and leave periods (annual leave, public holidays, sick leave, maternity leave);
• Clear standards to ensure remuneration adequate to secure a life with dignity; clear standards for night work and overtime, including adequate remuneration;
• Standards on termination of employment; dispute resolution mechanisms, including access to courts.
• The right to collective bargaining and freedom of association must also be guaranteed to domestic workers.
• Provisions for the establishment of mechanisms to monitor the situation of domestic workers.
• Provisions to ensure sexual and reproductive rights to domestic workers including access to information and services on family planning and contraceptives.

I request that you ensure that there is an equal protection of domestic workers rights and those measures are developed to protect domestic workers from gender-based discrimination, psychological, physical and sexual violence and other human rights abuses.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours sincerely,

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Everyday for your employer and their family:

• You generally need to cook, wash clothes, clean the house, look after children and do the shopping.
• You often work very long hours, being allowed little or no rest, reports indicate some domestic workers being forced to work 21-22 hours per day, seven days a week.
• You are likely to not be permitted to take holiday leave (even public holidays)
• You sometimes don’t get paid for months and when you do, often it is less money than you agreed to when you first were employed – and much less than minimum wage in Indonesia.
• You may also not be able to leave your employers house, or are prevented from joining meetings or social events outside the home. Perhaps you are even locked in your room at night.
• You live with a high risk of experiencing physical and sexual violence, and very limited opportunities to seek justice for this when it occurs, not only due to limitations in the law, but also as you are afraid to speak out against your employer as you may lose your job.

Imagine this, everyday…

Women domestic workers in Indonesia face human rights abuses at work including economic exploitation, poor working conditions as well as gender-based discrimination.  The approximately 2.6 million domestic workers are subjected to physical, psychological and sexual violence. In  Indonesia,  women  domestic  workers  are  not  protected  by  current  legislation safeguarding  workers  rights,  in  particular  the  2003  Manpower  Act  (No.13/2003,  Undang-Undang  tentang  Ketenagakerjaan).

For a number of years, civil society groups working on the rights of domestic workers have been campaigning for a specific law on domestic workers that will recognize them legally as workers and that will safeguard their rights.

Imagine for a moment, what you can do to change the everyday for domestic workers in Indonesia.

The Indonesian parliament has included a domestic workers bill in their legislative agenda for 2010.  Domestic worker groups coordinated by the domestic workers coalition Jala-PRT have planned a series of activities over the next few months to ensure the bill is debated and that it integrates international human rights standards. To support the initiative of Jala-PRT and its global friends, and to highlight the following concerns, we ask YOU to take action now by adding your name to the letter below.

Your name and details will be added to a copy of this letter and sent to the Chair of the Parliamentary Commission IX. This commission will initially debate and amend the draft bill.

Take action now and help create a better everyday.

A new Indonesia bylaw endorses stoning to death for adultery and caning of up to 100 lashes for homosexuality.

Town of Banda Aceh © PBI

The local Islamic Criminal Code was passed by the Aceh Provincial House of Representatives on 14 September. It forbids a number of acts including alcohol consumption, gambling, intimacy between unmarried couples, adultery and fornication, and homosexuality.
Local Islamic Law was gradually put in place in Aceh from 1999-2000 through various autonomy packages. Caning was introduced a few years ago as a punishment meted out by Islamic courts for offences such as gambling, theft and adultery.

At least 31 men and four women convicted of gambling were caned under local Islamic law in Aceh in 2005 and at least eight people (five men and three women) convicted for gambling or adultery were canned in 2006. However, this is the first time that local legislators have included stoning to death (rajam) as a penalty for those who commit adultery.

The governor of Aceh has indicated that they will not sign the Islamic bylaw because of their opposition to stoning as a form of punishment. However the law becomes effective after 30 days with or without the signature of the governor. The central government has also indicated that the law may contravene Indonesia’s existing human rights provisions under the country’s constitution and is considering filing a judicial review with the Supreme Court.

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Write/Email/Fax to the temporary Chairperson of the Aceh Provincial House of representatives:

Start your letter “Dear Chairperson”

Hasbi Abdullah
Chairperson of the
Aceh Provincial House of Representatives (DPRA)
Jln. Tgk. M. Daud Beureueh, No. 155,
Banda Aceh, Indonesia
Fax: + 62 651 21638
Email: dpr_aceh@yahoo.com

Dear Chairperson,

I am concerned about a new Indonesia bylaw, the Islamic Criminal Code, that endorses stoning to death for adultery and caning of up to 100 lashes for homosexuality and we call for it to be repealed immediately so that both the punishments and the crimes are abolished.

International human rights law and the standards oppose the extension of the death penalty to new crimes. Stoning to death is also particularly cruel and constitutes torture, which is absolutely forbidden under all circumstances in international law.

I am also concerned by provisions that criminalize adultery and homosexuality, sexual acts outside of marriage which are freely agreed to. Indonesian authorities must ensure that such provisions are repealed in conformity with international law and standards relating to physical and mental integrity and the right not to be discriminated against, the right to privacy, and freedom of expression.

I call on the new legislature which took office in October, to repeal the law as a matter of urgent priority.

I also urge the new legislature to ensure that all local regulations in Aceh are in full conformity with international human rights law and standards, and other human rights provisions set out in the Indonesian Constitution and in the 1999 Law on Human Rights.

Yours sincerely,

(add your name and country in here!)

The local Islamic Criminal Code was passed by the Aceh Provincial House of Representatives on Monday. It forbids a number of acts including alcohol consumption, gambling, intimacy between unmarried couples, adultery and fornication, and homosexuality.

“The new criminal bylaw flies in the face of international human rights law as well as provisions of the Indonesian constitution,” said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director.

“Stoning to death is particularly cruel and constitutes torture, which is absolutely forbidden under all circumstances in international law.”

Indonesia’s central government has indicated that the law may contravene Indonesia’s existing human rights protections under the country’s constitution.

“We welcome the concerns expressed by different levels of the Indonesian government about these laws,” Zarifi said. “But the proof is in the doing, and as long as these laws stay on the books they pose a serious threat to Indonesia’s international human rights obligations.”

Some of these provisions, particularly punishment by caning, are not new in Aceh and already violate international human rights standards on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

However, this is the first time that local legislators have included stoning to death (rajam) as a penalty for those who commit adultery. International human rights law and standards oppose the extension of the death penalty to new crimes.

Amnesty International has urged Aceh’s newly elected legislature, due to take office in October, to repeal the law as matter of urgent priority.

Amnesty International has also called on the new legislature to ensure that all local regulations in Aceh are in full conformity with international human rights law and standards, and other human rights provisions set out in the Indonesian Constitution and in the 1999 Law on Human Rights.

The Indonesian government should ensure that the decentralization process and regional autonomy does not come at the expense of human rights.

Local Islamic Law was gradually put in place in Aceh from 1999-2000 through various autonomy packages. Caning was introduced a few years ago as a punishment meted out by Islamic courts for offences such as gambling, theft and adultery. At least 31 men and four women convicted of gambling were caned under local Islamic law in Aceh in 2005 and at least eight people (five men and three women) convicted for gambling or adultery were caned in 2006.

@ ABC

Books written in jail by the executed Bali bombers are being sold lately in Jakarta, despite the government’s best efforts to stop their publication.

The books entitled “Martyrs’ Trilogy” contain writings and autobiographical notes by Amrozi, Ali Gufron, and Imam Samudra.

Local people found it quite hard to get a copy as the books are not widely distributed. Though some experts have warned that publishing books like these would help bind the terrorists network, some locals believe people can learn more from the books.

You may want to watch this news clip on ABC, and found out the views of local people.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/03/17/2518169.htm

- contributed by Alexanda B, Nepal