Give female workers a break, say Kowani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Corps of Indonesian Women (Kowani) appealed
\nto employers and educators yesterday to give women workers better
\nopportunity to enhance their careers.<\/p>\n
Kowani chairperson Enny Busiri said in a workshop yesterday
\nthat women workers in Indonesia are still subject to
\ndiscrimination in the workplace and even at schools.<\/p>\n
Enny said the key to a more equal partnership between men and
\nwomen in workplaces lies in education, which means that women
\nshould be given equal access to education and training.<\/p>\n
Kowani is an umbrella group of various women's organizations
\nin Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's one-day workshop held at the Ministry of Manpower
\nwas intended to implement some of the recommendations from a
\nseminar last month to improve the conditions of women workers in
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Enny stressed the importance of eliminating all the remaining
\npractices of sexual discrimination at workplaces.<\/p>\n
Noting that the labor legislation does not discriminate
\nagainst women workers, she appealed for their consistent
\ninvolvement.<\/p>\n
"To enhance women's productivity and welfare, the government's
\ntraining and apprenticeship programs should be made available to
\nas many women workers as possible," she said.<\/p>\n
The number of women workers in Indonesia has continued to
\nincrease with more and more of them opting to have a career. In
\n1980, women workers made up 33 percent of the total work force in
\nIndonesia and by 1990, the percentage had risen to 39 percent.<\/p>\n
Most of them however are still employed in menial jobs
\nrequiring little skill.<\/p>\n
Enny attributed this to the lack of access to education, which
\nin turn is caused by the still prevailing attitude among parents
\nto give greater priority to sons rather than daughters when it
\ncomes to schooling.<\/p>\n
She said this attitude also prevails in many other developing
\ncountries such as India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Director General for Manpower Placement Abdul
\nRachim in his presentation emphasized the government's intention
\nto tighten regulations concerning the way Indonesia is sending
\nworkers overseas, particularly women workers.<\/p>\n
The program of sending workers overseas has been widely
\ncriticized in the past because many Indonesian women were poorly
\nprotected against harassment from their employers. Many also
\ncriticized the program because Indonesia has been sending mostly
\ndomestic helpers.<\/p>\n
Rachim said the government intends to phase out the sending of
\nunskilled workers.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has also secured agreements with the governments of
\ncountries where there are many Indonesian workers to ensure that
\nthey enjoy legal protection and other social security benefits.
\n(rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/give-female-workers-a-break-say-kowani-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}