Fajarasia.co – The Maternal and Child Welfare Bill (RUU KIA) has officially become a DPR initiative bill. The Chairperson of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, confirmed that this bill was aimed at enabling children as the nation’s next generation to grow and develop properly.
The ratification of the MCH Bill as an initiative of the DPR was carried out in the Plenary Meeting at the Nusantara II Building, Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday (30/6/2022). Nine factions in the DPR have expressed their opinions regarding the MCH Bill.
“The Maternal and Child Welfare Bill is a DPR breakthrough with the hope that this bill will later become a guideline for the state to ensure that the nation’s next generation has good growth and development so that they become superior human resources,” said Puan after the Plenary Meeting.
The first woman to serve as Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives added that the MCH Bill is closely related to stunting prevention, which is still a problem in Indonesia. One of the efforts to prevent stunting is through the initiation of maternity leave for working mothers for 6 months.
“Through sufficient maternity leave, mothers are expected to maximally provide breast milk to their babies, which is the first step in providing nutrition to prevent stunting,” he said.
The MCH Bill also proposes 40 days of paternity leave for male workers whose wives have just given birth. Because this bill emphasizes the importance of implementing the welfare of mothers and children in a directed, integrated, and sustainable manner, including with the support of their own families.
“Through this bill, we will give husbands a flexible role to jointly be responsible for their early growth and development by giving husbands sufficient leave when their wives give birth,” explained Puan.
The MCH Bill also ensures that mothers and children get special facilities in public facilities and infrastructure. One of them is the obligation for public facilities and offices to provide child care or daycare for their employees.
“Because in its current development, daycare is very much needed by married couples who work,” said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.
Puan understands the dynamics related to the proposed 6 months maternity leave for mothers and paternity leave, especially from entrepreneurs. However, he ensured that the MCH Bill would not conflict with other existing laws.
“About the attitude or opinion from the perspective of entrepreneurs, later please participate in discussing and providing input to the DPR. This principle is for the good and the future of our children. I’m sure there will be a meeting point,” said Puan.
The Plenary Session of the DPR today also passed 5 bills on the Province, namely the Bill on the Province of West Sumatra; Bill on Riau Province; Bill on Jambi Province; Bill on the Province of West Nusa Tenggara; and the Bill on the Province of East Nusa Tenggara.
Then the Council approved 3 Bills (RUUs) related to the new Papua province or DOB (New Autonomous Region) Papua, namely the South Papua Province Bill, the Central Papua Province Bill, and the Mountains Province Bill.
The Plenary Meeting for the fifth trial period for the 2021-2022 session also includes the submission of the DPR RI Budget Board report on the results of the preliminary discussion of the RAPBN for Fiscal year 2023 and the government’s work plan for 2023. In addition, there is also the submission of the Government’s statement on the Bill on Accountability for the Implementation of the State Budget. Fiscal Year 2021.
Another plenary meeting agenda is to ratify the results of the feasibility test of 2 candidates for Supreme Court Justices and 2 candidates for ad hoc judges on corruption at the Supreme Court. They are Candidate for Supreme Court Justice of the Civil Chamber, Nani Indrawati, Candidate for Supreme Court Justice of the Special Administrative Court for Tax Cerah Bangun, Candidate for Ad Hoc Corruption Judge Agustinus Purnomo Hadi, and Candidate for Ad Hoc Corruption Judge Arizon Mega Jaya.
“Fit and proper tests have been carried out to fill the vacancies in the positions of Supreme Court Justices and ad hoc Corruption Judges at the Supreme Court. The DPR has carried out all the processes so that the elected candidates are proper candidates and according to their needs,” explained Puan.
“Congratulations to the four selected candidates. Hopefully they can carry out their duties with trust,” he concluded.****
