Commemorating what they called domestic worker national day, which falls on Feb. 15, activists and domestic workers in Yogyakarta staged a rally on Sunday, demanding respect and equal treatment before the law.

Carrying banners and posters expressing their demands, protesters marched to the provincial legislature.

Calling the move “Serbet Cinta untuk PRT Yogya” (Love napkins for Yogyakarta domestic workers), they stitched 400 napkins to form a giant napkin that they spread over the front yard of the building.

“This is our way of showing respect to domestic workers. They deserve the same protection and treatment as workers in other sectors,” activist Damairia Pakpahan said.

Protesters comprised of members from domestic workers’ associations and NGOs grouped under the Yogyakarta Domestic Worker Protection Network (JPPRT).

Another rally is expected nationwide on Monday. Feb. 15 was chosen as the domestic worker national day in tribute to a large rally in Surabaya in 2001 held in response to the death of 14-year-old domestic worker Sunarsih, who was tortured by her employer.

“Despite the contributions of domestic workers to the wheels of economy of our families, employers, places of origin and even the country, domestic workers still face abundant problems,” Raminingsih, a domestic worker, said.

Among the problems, she said, were abuse and exploitation such as long working hours, unpaid overtime, physical violence and sexual abuse.

“What is more concerning is that little is publicly known about such abuse mostly because our working places are considered private and that outsiders cannot just interfere,” said Raminingsih, who also coordinated Sunday’s rally.

Protesters demanded domestic workers be given reasonable wages and working hours and a day off every Sunday.

They also urged the government to recognize Feb. 15 as an official domestic worker national day, when domestic workers across the country could be granted an extra day off.

Another protester, Buyung Ridwan Tanjung, said that with nearly 37,000 domestic workers in the province, there was no other reason for the provincial administration to not provide clear regulation on domestic worker protection.

“We began the struggle for such regulation a decade ago. There is no sign of success yet,” said Buyung, who is also coordinator of the advocacy division of Rumpun Tjoet Njak Dien, one of the participating NGOs.

He expressed disappointment with the issuance of a gubernatorial decree annulling an article on domestic workers in a 2009 Yogyakarta municipal bylaw on manpower affairs, which classified domestic workers as formal workers.

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