Legal efforts to protect home workers in North Sumatra

Abstract

Home workers without legal protection isan international phenomenon. North Sumatra Province encounters a similar problem because this province is a strategic area for investment. Its climate, land, natural resources, and the number of the labor force are several reasons which may attract investment in North Sumatra. This problem relates to the legal basis to establishlocal regulationconcerning protection to home workers. This is because the central government has not regulated this issue in the Act No. 13 of 2003 on Manpower. Therefore, this empirical juridical study will explain the legal efforts which have been done by the community to encourage the formulation of local regulation which can protect home workers. The analysis was conducted qualitatively by describing such efforts, including forming the communities of home workers so that they can be provided with training, advocation, accompaniment, and involvement in each stage of drafting the local regulation. In addition, political approaches were also performed continuously, such as voicing opinions to the Regional Representative Council (DPRD), Department of Manpower, and academics. Although these efforts have not received a positive outcome for the enactment of the local regulation, this article will give an idea that the legal issues of home workers particularly in North Sumatra still must be strived.