Indonesia has officially granted legal recognition to domestic workers following a 22-year campaign by labor advocates and rights organizations. The landmark decision affects approximately 4.2 million domestic workers currently employed throughout the country.

According to government data, nearly 90% of Indonesia's domestic workers are women. The new legal framework is expected to provide these workers with formal employment protections and rights that were previously unavailable under Indonesian labor law.

The recognition comes after more than two decades of sustained advocacy efforts by labor rights groups who argued that domestic workers deserved the same legal protections as other categories of employees. Previously, domestic workers operated in a legal gray area without formal employment status.

The policy change represents a significant shift in how Indonesia's government approaches domestic labor, which has long been an important sector of the country's economy. Details regarding specific protections and implementation timelines for the new recognition framework have not yet been fully disclosed by Indonesian authorities.