The Indonesian Home Workers Network (JPRI) Officially Established

Representatives of women’s organizations and home worker unions from seven provinces, namely North Sumatra, DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta and East Java, formally established the Indonesian Home Workers Network on 10 May 2018 with the elected chairman Lisna Nasution from the Serikat Pekerja Rumahan Sejahtera Sumatra Utara (North Sumatra ‘Prosperous’ Home Workers Union). The establishment of the Indonesian Home Workers Network (JPRI) was the result of a three-day national consolidation from 8-10 May 2018 in Medan facilitated by BITRA (which stands for Indonesian Rural Skills Counselor), MWPRI (Womens’ Partners Domestic Workers Indonesia), TURC (Trade Union Rights Center), and Yasanti (Annisa Swasti Foundation), and was fully supported by the MAMPU Program.

The JPRI was established with two main objectives, namely: 1) Making the Indonesian Home Workers Network into a catalyst for home worker-based unions so as to unite all the home workers in Indonesia; and 2) Making the Indonesian Home Workers Network as an umbrella organization and a means to further advocate the existence of home workers throughout Indonesia through policies for their protection.

Some of the initial work agendas that JPRI has agreed to implement are consolidation meetings twice a year, to be a unionized organization within a period of 1 to 2 years, and to pursue policies that safeguard home workers. In implementing the work agenda, JPRI recognizes the importance of support from various parties including civil society organizations that have overseen the establishment of the JPRI in particular to continue the capacity building of JPRI members, policy advocacy, access to networks, actors and strategic institutions, transformation and knowledge management, and support for resources.