Indonesia set to pass Bill on sexual violence

This comes amid a rise in the number of reported complaints of such cases in the country.

“With cases of sexual violence occurring in the workplace, it became necessary [to issue a decree] to eliminate all forms of sexual violence, especially against women,” said Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah.

Last year, there were 108 cases of gender-based violence, including sexual violence, in workplaces, a significant increase from the 64 cases in 2020, according to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

Meanwhile, the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry recorded 877 cases of violence in the workplace from 2017 to 2021, with 921 victims being working women.

The ministerial decree will spell out the mechanisms for preventing and handling cases of sexual violence in the workplace, including obligations for employers to prevent it and to form a task force to handle such cases, said Ida, who added that the decree will also stipulate punishments for perpetrators.

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The decree will have more legal teeth than the circular issued in 2011, which was introduced in discussion with the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and workers unions.

Ida did not reveal when the decree would be issued, but said she was expecting the long-awaited sexual violence Bill to be passed soon, according to The Jakarta Post.