Fajarasia.co – The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, expressed her commitment to pushing the Maternal and Child Welfare Bill (KIA) to be completed this year. The MCH Bill has been included in the priority prolegnas for 2022.
Commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Retno Listyarti welcomed Puan’s firm stance. As Chair of the DPR, according to Retno, this is good news for the welfare of mothers and children.
“I really support Mrs. Puan, it shows she really cares about the health of mothers and children, cares about the welfare of mothers and children, also shows commitment to improving the quality of growth and development of Indonesian children,” Retno told reporters, Friday (18/6/22). )
“Children who are growing now are a portrait of the quality of the future of this nation,” he said.
As the head of a state institution as well as a mother, Retno appreciates Puan’s attitude of thinking long about the future of Indonesian children.
“Bu Puan is also a woman and a mother and when she became chairman of the DPR she cared so much about the health and quality of life of Indonesian children and Indonesian women, of course something that deserves appreciation,” said Retno.
Regarding one of the substance of the MCH Bill, namely maternity leave being 6 months, Retno agreed. For Retno, ideally the leave for pregnant women who give birth is 6 months, but if the company considers it too long, then at least a female worker who is about to give birth has taken a month off leave before the due date and 3 months after giving birth.
“Because when a mother is 8 months pregnant, the body will get heavier because the fetus is growing. This condition makes a pregnant woman have difficulty breathing, difficulty sleeping, and fatigue. Of course, to overcome this, you have to get more rest, this is the key to maintaining the health of the mother and baby,” said Retno.
Also, if you have to work, especially if you have to travel long distances and take public transportation, it is likely that the mother will be very tired. Therefore, the solution to stay fit and healthy is to take at least a month’s leave before giving birth.
“After childbirth, a mother will also lack sleep or be tired from caring for the baby, which can also have an impact on emotional stress that has the potential to cause baby blues or even postpartum depression,” he said.
“So taking time off during this period can give mothers giving birth to rest, recover, and focus on caring for their babies by providing exclusive breastfeeding. Breast milk is needed by babies for optimal growth and development,” concluded Retno
Previously, the DPR RI agreed on the Bill on Maternal and Child Welfare (KIA) to be further discussed into law.
The chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani stressed the importance of rearranging the period of maternity leave, which is important to ensure child development and recovery for mothers after giving birth.
“The DPR will continue to carry out intensive communication with various stakeholders regarding this matter. We hope that the Government’s commitment to support this regulation is for the future of the nation’s next generation,” said Puan, who is also the mother of two children.
Puan said this bill was designed to create superior Indonesian human resources (HR).
“We hope that the Bill on Maternal and Child Welfare which is included in the list of the 2022 Priority National Legislation Program (Prolegnas) will be completed soon. This bill is important to welcome Indonesia’s golden generation,” said Puan.
The MCH Bill focuses on the golden age of a child, which is a crucial period of child growth and development which is often associated with the first 1,000 days of life (HPK) as a determinant of a child’s future.
Puan explained that there are a number of basic rights that must be obtained by a mother, including the right to obtain health services, health insurance during pregnancy, to receive special treatment and facilities in public facilities, facilities and infrastructure.
In addition, Puan said, mothers must have sufficient time to provide breast milk for their children, including working mothers. He emphasized that working mothers must have sufficient time to express breast milk during working hours.
“The MCH Bill also stipulates at least six months of maternity leave, and cannot be dismissed from work. In addition, mothers who are on maternity leave must continue to receive salaries from corporate social security and corporate social responsibility funds,” explained Puan.
The determination of the period of maternity leave was previously regulated in Law No. 13 of 2003 concerning Manpower with a duration of only 3 months. Through the MCH Bill, maternity leave has been changed to 6 months and a rest period of 1.5 months for working mothers who have miscarriages.*****
