Seasonal maids in demand as Idul Fitri nears<\/p>\n
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
When her domestic helpers choosing to return to their hometowns
\nto celebrate Idul Fitri festivities, businesswoman Nitayudi can
\nfeel assured that her household is well taken care off, thanks
\nto hired seasonal maids.<\/p>\n
Nitayudi, who is also the chairwoman of the Jakarta chapter of
\nthe Indonesian Businesswomen Association (IWAPI), said that she
\nhas used seasonal maids for almost five years now to substitute
\nfor three regular maids when they take the Idul Fitri holidays.<\/p>\n
\"My husband is the eldest in his family, so many family
\nmembers come to visit us during Idul Fitri. So it can get very
\nhectic, and I just can't do it alone,\" the mother of two told The
\nJakarta Post over the phone.<\/p>\n
The absence of regular domestic helpers around this time of
\nthe year has brought about the popularity of seasonal helpers,
\nand supplying companies are embracing the opportunity.<\/p>\n
The Melati Foundation in Depok, for example, said that so far
\nthe company has supplied 30 seasonal helpers and expects to
\nsupply more than 60 helpers this year.<\/p>\n
\"Usually we start to get orders two weeks before the holiday,\"
\none of Melati Foundation's head, Ewin, said.<\/p>\n
He said that the helpers -- all of them female between the age
\nof 17 to 30 years -- come from villages in Central Java and
\nLampung who were recruited by the company's agents there.<\/p>\n
The helpers are paid between Rp 40,000 (about US$4) and Rp
\n50,000 a day for working a minimum of two weeks, Ewin said.<\/p>\n
\"It would be a rip off for the girls if they work less than
\ntwo weeks, especially with the cost of transportation rising,\" he
\nexplained.<\/p>\n
Melati Foundation charges prospective employers a fee of Rp
\n200,000 for each of helper it supplies.<\/p>\n
\"This way the helpers receive their salary in full, and not
\nreduced for our commission,\" Ewin explained.<\/p>\n
Security is often an issue when hiring seasonal workers, and
\nmany people such as Nitayudi said they prefer hiring helpers
\nwhose backgrounds are known to her.<\/p>\n
\"I was first introduced to the service by a relative of one of
\nmy regular maids, and the seasonal maids he supplies are those
\nwhose families he knows,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Melati Foundation makes sure that each of its
\nhelpers comes with a current identification card, letter of
\npermission from her parents or husband, and a letter from the
\nsubdistrict head.<\/p>\n
\"We also know exactly where they live, so if there is problem
\nwe can easily track them down,\" Ewin said.<\/p>\n
In hiring a helper, the Nelly Asih Foundation in Tangerang
\nsaid that it was important to first interview the prospective
\nworkers before hiring them.<\/p>\n
Through its website http:\/\/ytkna.tripod.com\/ the company said
\nthat prospective employers should be careful with the helpers's
\nreal intention in working, and whether they are prepared with the
\njob ahead of them.<\/p>\n
\"Many helpers come to the city following their friends who
\nhave done it before and were successful, but they were unprepared
\nor unqualified for the kind of work,\" Nelly Asih said in the
\nwebsite.<\/p>\n
The website also warns that \"although majority of the girls
\nare honest, they can still be tempted to do illegal things when
\ntheir employers are careless in placing valuables\".<\/p>\n
On the flipside, prospective employers contacting either
\nMelati Foundation or Nelly Asih Foundation should come equipped
\nwith a copy of their current identification card.<\/p>\n
\"We also have a set of guidelines for employers, including
\nthat they should treat their helpers humanely, not to hit them,
\nand to give them proper meals,\" Ewin said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/seasonal-maids-in-demand-as-idul-fitri-nears-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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