Housemaids deserve better<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
On Feb. 7 and Feb. 11, Kompas printed a statement from the
\nMinister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi, saying that many
\nIndonesian women were working as prostitutes in the Middle East.
\nAs members of a non-governmental organization, Solidaritas
\nPerempuan, which advocates the plight of Indonesian female
\nservants, we would like to make the following points.<\/p>\n
1. We wholeheartedly support the minister's efforts to protect
\nIndonesian female servants in the Middle East. Mien's discussion
\nof the matter and her belief that female workers are not to
\nblame, is an important step toward solving the problem. The
\nminister said brokers and economic constraints put pressure on
\nfemale workers to become prostitutes.<\/p>\n
We appreciate the minister's efforts in the matter, both at
\nhome and abroad. Temporary information in our office will be sent
\nstraight to her office.<\/p>\n
2. We protest the minister's attitude, which we find demeaning
\nand discriminating toward female servants, as in Kompas (Feb.
\n11). Her attitude shone forth with the words: \"When they (Saudi
\nArabians) see Indonesian women, they think they are servants. If
\nthey think I'm a servant, I'll hit them. They take it for granted
\nthat female workers are domestic servants. With these looks of
\nmine, they take me for a servant.\"<\/p>\n
These words discriminate against domestic helpers. According
\nto Mien, domestic servants are regarded as second class citizens
\nand are clearly not on the same level of other female
\nprofessionals (like presidential servants, for instance).
\nServants also seem to have certain facial features, which differ
\nfrom the faces of middle class women.<\/p>\n
It is because of this degrading view that female servants are
\nvulnerable to human rights violations such as low wages,
\nirregular working hours and abusive treatment. In many countries,
\nfemale servants are also legally unprotected.<\/p>\n
The words of the minister contradict her position. Is not a
\nminister no more than a \"servant\" of the President and what about
\na civil servant?<\/p>\n
The interests of domestic servants should be better looked
\nafter and certainly not sneered at.<\/p>\n
INDRIASWATI<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/housemaids-deserve-better-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }