Finally, the Indonesian parliament has approved a law that will ensure the rights of Indonesia’s four-point-two million domestic workers after a fight that has taken more than two decades. This is the first time that such workers, who are predominantly female, have been recognized as “workers” and, therefore, entitled to medical insurance, paid vacations, and pensions.

Additionally, the law states that no one below 18 years can be employed, and that placement agencies cannot make deductions from their salaries. However, despite the victory, the workers and activists have cautioned that the law needs to be followed by an education campaign to end the abuse that many of them have suffered in informal jobs.