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Domestic workers' rights in Indonesia under Law 2/2026: pay, THR, rest and agencies

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by Kaiser Khan (editor), Updated

Law 2/2026, in force since 30 April 2026, gives domestic workers rights to pay, THR, rest, leave and social security, and bans agency fees and wage cuts.

Legal status: the Labour Protection Law was approved by the DPR and the Government on 6 October 2026 but has not been promulgated and its text is not public. Until it takes effect, the rules on this page apply.

Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia); Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI

Summary

  • Since 30 April 2026, domestic workers (PRT, often called ART) are entitled to wages, THR, rest, leave and social security as agreed in their work agreement (Law 2/2026 Article 15).
  • An agency may not charge you any fee or deduct your wages for any reason. Do not pay, and report it to the labour office (Article 28(1)).
  • Keep your agreement or work contract. A work contract is written in Indonesian, and copies go to the agency and the neighbourhood head (RT/RW) (Article 11).
  • Disputes go first to talks of at most 7 days, then to mediation by the RT/RW or a labour office mediator (Articles 31 and 32).
  • If you want to quit, tell your employer at least 1 month in advance (Article 17).
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On this page
  1. Who does Law 2/2026 protect?
  2. What are the requirements, and how are domestic workers hired?
  3. What rights do domestic workers have?
  4. Who pays a domestic worker's social security?
  5. What are domestic-worker agencies forbidden to do?
  6. What if there is a dispute with the employer or the agency?
  7. What is still waiting for implementing rules?
  8. What if I am offered domestic work abroad?
  9. Where can I get help?

Who does Law 2/2026 protect?

Law 2/2026 on the Protection of Domestic Workers, in force since 30 April 2026, protects domestic workers (PRT): people who do household work for an individual employer for a wage (Article 1). The work includes cooking, laundry and ironing, cleaning the house and yard, childcare, caring for sick or elderly people or people with disabilities, driving, minding the house and looking after pets (Article 10). Domestic workers can be full-time or part-time (Article 9).

What are the requirements, and how are domestic workers hired?

A prospective domestic worker must be at least 18, hold an e-KTP and have a health certificate from a health facility (Law 2/2026 Article 5). Hiring is either direct, by the employer under an agreement, or through a licensed domestic-worker placement company (P3RT) (Articles 4, 6, 7 and 26). With an agency, you sign a placement agreement that states the period, workplace, working time, scope of work and wage (Article 8). The work agreement is written in Indonesian, and copies go to the agency and the neighbourhood head (RT/RW) (Article 11).

What rights do domestic workers have?

Article 15(1) of Law 2/2026 gives domestic workers the right to worship, to humane working hours, to rest and leave, to wages and a religious holiday allowance (THR) in money as agreed, to health and employment social security, to healthy food, to decent accommodation for live-in workers, to a safe and healthy workplace, and to end the relationship if the employer breaks the agreement. Employers must pay wages and THR as agreed and give rest and leave (Article 19).

Who pays a domestic worker's social security?

Health insurance contributions are paid by central or regional government if the worker qualifies for subsidised membership; otherwise the employer pays them under the agreement, with the neighbourhood head informed (Law 2/2026 Article 16(1) and (2)). Employment social security contributions are paid by the employer under the agreement (Article 16(3)). The details will be set in a government regulation (Article 16(4)).

What are domestic-worker agencies forbidden to do?

Article 28(1) of Law 2/2026 bars a P3RT from deducting wages or charging any fee, in any form or for any reason, to prospective or current domestic workers; holding original personal documents or blocking communication; placing domestic workers with businesses or institutions rather than individual employers; and forcing workers to stay bound by a placement agreement after it ends. Breaches lead to administrative sanctions from a reprimand up to licence revocation (Article 28(2) and (3)). Unlicensed agencies must comply within 1 year of the law's promulgation (Article 35).

What if there is a dispute with the employer or the agency?

Disputes are first settled by discussion, within 7 days of either side asking (Law 2/2026 Article 31). If that fails, a dispute between employer and worker is mediated by the head of the neighbourhood (RT/RW) where the worker works. If an agency is involved, a mediator at the labour office handles it and must settle it within 7 days of receiving the complaint. A mediator's decision on a wage dispute between employer and worker is final and binding (Article 32).

What is still waiting for implementing rules?

Law 2/2026 leaves many details to government and ministerial regulations, including the amount and timing of agreed wages (Article 15(3)), social security contributions (Article 16(4)), agencies' rights and duties (Article 22), vocational training (Article 25), and guidance and supervision (Article 30(5)). All implementing regulations must be issued within 1 year of the law taking effect (Article 36(2)). We will update this page when they are published.

What if I am offered domestic work abroad?

Law 2/2026 covers domestic work in Indonesia. Work abroad falls under Law 18/2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, which recognises placement only through KP2MI/BP2MI, a licensed P3MI agency or a company posting its own staff (Article 49), and bars individuals from placing migrant workers (Article 69). An offer of domestic work abroad through an individual broker, without a clear contract, is a red flag.

Where can I get help?

For complaints about an agency or unmet rights, contact your local labour office or the Ministry of Manpower's complaint channel. Women and children facing violence can contact SAPA 129, and in an emergency call the police. A general guide to social insurance is in the Panduan Warga guide to Indonesian social insurance.

Not legal advice. For your own case, contact the official channels listed.

Frequently asked questions

The agency wants me to pay for training and admin. Is that allowed?

No. Law 2/2026 Article 28(1)(a) bars domestic-worker agencies (P3RT) from charging prospective or current domestic workers any fee, in any form or for any reason, and Article 24(2) says training that an agency or employer sends or pays for may not be charged to the worker. Do not pay, and report it to the labour office.

Is a relative or neighbour who helps at home a domestic worker?

Not always. Law 2/2026 Article 4(2) says people who help with household work because of custom, kinship, education or religion are not domestic workers under this law. A domestic worker is someone who does household work for an employer for a wage (Article 1, point 1).

Is a personal assistant (PA) working in a home a domestic worker?

They can be. Law 2/2026 defines a domestic worker as someone who does household work for an employer for a wage (Article 1, point 1), and the employer is an individual in a household (Article 1, point 4). Household work includes looking after children, driving, guarding the house and other household work the parties agree (Article 10). So a PA hired by a family mainly for household matters can count as a domestic worker. A PA hired by a company falls under the ordinary labour rules.

Can a domestic worker quit?

Yes. A domestic worker can end the relationship, for example if the employer does not honour the agreement (Article 15(1)(l)), and the relationship can also end by mutual consent (Article 14). The worker must give at least 1 month's notice before leaving (Article 17).

Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published Updated

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: .

Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

  1. DPR Sahkan UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan (emedia DPR RI, 7 Oktober 2026) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat RI (emedia) · accessed
  2. Menaker Ungkap Poin Penting UU Pelindungan Ketenagakerjaan yang Wajib Diketahui Pekerja Kementerian Ketenagakerjaan RI · accessed
  3. Undang-Undang Nomor 2 Tahun 2026 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Rumah Tangga JDIH BPK RI (peraturan.bpk.go.id) · UU 2/2026 · accessed
  4. Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed
How to cite

KarirAman (2026). Domestic workers' rights in Indonesia under Law 2/2026: pay, THR, rest and agencies. Updated 8 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/workers-rights/domestic-workers/

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Change log
  • : The summary now lists the steps for domestic workers; added a question on personal assistants and a link to the domestic worker role guide.