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Trade unions workshop on follow-up responses to draft law on mother and children’s welfare (RUU KIA)
Christianus H. Panjaitan
The ILO project on care economy facilitated consultation on development of trade unions position paper concerning draft law on mother and children welfare with representatives of six trade union confederations in Indonesia. The workshop is a follow up to the first consultation of the confederations on the draft law in June 2023 in Tangerang, Banten. During the workshop in June, the Alliance of Trade Union Confederations for Draft Law on Mother and Children’s Welfare (Aliansi Konfederasi untuk RUU KIA/AKUKIA) was established. The present workshop aims to finalize the position paper, developed in the previous workshop, and develop action plan for advocacy of the trade unions’ recommendations to relevant institutions.
International standards and practices of maternity benefit schemes, and reform options for Indonesia were presented and discussed with 44 participants representing six trade union confederations. Relevant articles of ILO Conventions 102 and 183 and that of national regulations were presented and discussed. Results of ILO studies on implementation of existing maternity benefit in Indonesia and financial assessment for introduction of maternity benefits as social protection programme in Indonesia were presented as reference for participants in considering reform options for introduction of maternity benefits and basic pension with universal coverage. Regarding stages and focus of advocacy, reference was made to Presidential Regulation No. 36 of 2023 on roadmap for social protection 2023-2024 and draft long term national development plan (RPJPN) of 2025-2045, which refer to introduction of maternity benefits scheme, and adaptive social protection.
National Project Officer (NPO) of the Care Economy project, Ms. Early Dewi Nuriana, presented 5R principles on care economy (recognition, reward, reduction, redistribution, and representation), and updates on development of national roadmap and action plan on care economy, while the Communication Officer, Ms. Dyah Retno Sudarto, presented the importance of a well-planned and measured campaign in raising awareness and promoting the issue of care economy.
President of KSBSI, Ms. Elly Rosita Silaban, presented draft trade union position paper on mother and children’s welfare bill developed during the previous consultation in June 2023. Representative of the Ministry of Manpower, Mr. Sigit Purnomo, presented proposed articles on maternity protection to the bill, while Mr. Timboel Siregar of BPJS Watch presented opportunities and challenges in implementing maternity insurance in Indonesia. Representative of PT Omron Manufacturing of Indonesia, Ms. Rubinah, presented good practice of mother and childcare facilities in their factory in Cikarang, West Java. Mr. Fredy Sembiring of KSPSI ATUC presented experience in organizing care workers.
Following presentations from resource persons, participants conducted group works and consultations to finalize the draft position paper and develop action plan to advocate and presented the position paper to government ministries and institutions, and the parliament.
Five priority issues identified by the participants, namely, maternity protection, promotion of paternity leave and support, mother and childcare services, recognition of care workers and promotion of decent work, and promotion of access to care services for people with disability were incorporated in the revised position paper, along with other points agreed during consultations. The revised position paper will be submitted to President of the respective confederations for signature.
An action plan to advocate the position paper was finalized. Representatives of AKUKIA will present the paper to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the National Social Security Council (DJSN), and the Parliament in December 2023.