Domestic workers legally recognised in Indonesia after '22-year struggle'

Indonesia's parliament has passed a law to protect the rights of domestic workers, more than 20 years after it was first introduced. The country is home to some 4.2 million domestic workers - of which almost 90% are women. They were previously not legally classified as workers. They will now be entitled to health insurance, rest days and pensions....

Indonesia's parliament has passed a law to protect the rights of domestic workers, more than 20 years after it was first introduced.

The country is home to some 4.2 million domestic workers - of which almost 90% are women. They were previously not legally classified as workers.

They will now be entitled to health insurance, rest days and pensions. Placement agencies will also no longer be allowed to implement wage deductions, and it will be illegal to hire children under the age of 18 as domestic workers.

Some wept upon hearing that the law was passed, with one worker saying it was the culmination of a "22-year struggle to gain protection".