Maids exempt from minimum wages<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Determining the amount of monthly minimum wages
\nfor domestic maids would be too complicated, a deputy governor
\nsays.<\/p>\n
R.S. Museno, who deals with social welfare, said yesterday
\nthat a maid's qualifications and an employer's economic condition
\nmust be taken into consideration in deciding a maid's wage.<\/p>\n
He said his office is still reviewing the concept of a minimum
\nwage level for maids submitted by the city's manpower office.<\/p>\n
\"If there are two inexperienced maids, with one of them being
\nable to cook and the other unable and needing training, it would
\nbe difficult for the administration to set the same wages for
\nthem,\" he cited.<\/p>\n
\"It is important to standardize the wages but thorough studies
\nmust be made first to avoid protest from the public in the
\nfuture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Last year, the administration returned the minimum wage level
\nconcept for maids to the city manpower office, and asked the
\noffice to restudy the concept.<\/p>\n
The head of the office, Suhatman, said yesterday that his
\noffice is still reviewing the plan which was based on a scheme
\nmade by the Social Institution Center of the University of
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
Aslam Sumhudi, a staff member of the center, said the minimum
\nwages proposed was the result of a second research conducted by
\nthe center last year.<\/p>\n
The center proposed minimum wages ranging from Rp 40,000 to Rp
\n60,000 per month.<\/p>\n
Originally, the study proposed Rp 20,000 a month for helpers
\nworking for lower-class families, Rp 40,000 for middle-class
\nfamilies and Rp 60,000 for those working for upper-class people.<\/p>\n
Lower-class families are those living on less than 36 square
\nmeters of land, middle class on 36 to 150 square meters and upper
\nclass on more than 150 square meters.<\/p>\n
\"The proposed amount is take-home pay which does not include
\naccommodation, health care, food and annual extra allowance which
\nshould also be provided by the employers,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Aslam said that based on the second study there are many maids
\nwho are underpaid, receiving only Rp 40,000 per month.<\/p>\n
Atje Mulyadi, chairman of the City Council's Commission E for
\nsocial welfare hailed the plan, saying that it is time for the
\nadministration to set minimum wage levels for domestic helpers
\nbecause they are also categorized as workers.<\/p>\n
\"Regulation on maids' minimum wages is very important for both
\nmaids and employers,\" Atje said.<\/p>\n
The regulation will guarantee that employers get experienced
\nmaids who fulfill any work contract agreed upon, he said.<\/p>\n
Many maids provided by employment agencies in Jakarta dishonor
\ntheir work contracts after two or three months of employment.<\/p>\n
Only 500,000 out of 1.7 million Jakarta families hire maids,
\nwhile only 25 out of 110 employment agencies for maids have legal
\npermits. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maids-exempt-from-minimum-wages-1447893297",
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