Mien supports sending maids to Saudis<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi said
\nyesterday that she supports the export of maids to Saudi Arabia
\nprovided that the workers are covered by adequate legal
\nprotection.<\/p>\n
Mien criticized local mass media for \"exploiting the negative
\nside\" of life that Indonesian maids face in Saudi Arabia and for
\noverlooking the positive.<\/p>\n
The minister made the remarks to journalists after discussing
\nthe issue with Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Abdullah A. Alim at her
\noffice.<\/p>\n
\"What's important is that their qualifications and legal
\nprotection be better,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Debates on the export of maids to Saudi Arabia resurfaced when
\nthe House of Representatives demanded that the government stop
\nthe business due to reports of physical and sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
Some House members, who went to Saudi Arabia on a fact-finding
\nmission, reported that over 1,500 maids have been raped by their
\nemployers, causing pregnancies in many cases.<\/p>\n
According to government statistics, there are an estimated
\n400,000 Indonesians working in the oil-rich kingdom, most of
\nwhich are without legal protection. The number is the second
\nlargest after that of Egyptians.<\/p>\n
Mien said she visited the Indonesian consulate in Jedah during
\nher recent minor haj pilgrim and spoke to about 60 Indonesian
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
From the discussion it was concluded that some Indonesian job
\nseekers are stranded or treated poorly in Saudi Arabia partly
\nbecause they lack the necessary skills, she said.<\/p>\n
Many also get in trouble for lying about their ages, she said.
\nEmployers need maids that are aged between 25 and 30 years and,
\nshe added, mature enough to handle sophisticated household
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
\"But (employment) brokers have falsified the ages and
\neducational levels of some job seekers. Trouble begins when the
\nmaids don't know what to do in their workplace,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mien said the problem need \"serious attention\" because it has
\nto do with Indonesia's good name abroad and the dignity of women.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Salim acknowledged that such problems exist but not
\nas serious as reported in the press. He declined to elaborate.
\n(pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mien-supports-sending-maids-to-saudis-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}