Activists stand up for maids

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesians must change the way they perceive domestic chores and show their maids more appreciation, activists say.

Tati Krisnawati of the National Commission of Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) said that the way domestic workers were treated needed a "revolution" in gender perspectives.

"Domestic chores are still considered the sole responsibility of women. The public should start a discourse to make people understand that the responsibility should be shared between men and women, which would lead to an improvement in relations between both sexes," she said.

She stressed that people should realize that domestic workers contributed a lot to other people's achievements, such as by giving their employers the chance to work outside the home and make successful careers for themselves.

Maria Pakpahan of the International Labor Organization (ILO) said that domestic workers should be treated as professionals and be accorded the dignity and the same rights as other workers enjoyed.

"Define their work. You can't expect to have a maid who can clean the house, take care of your baby or your parents, wash the car and mind the house all at the same time on a low salary, can you? If you can't pay them well, at least give them their rights," Maria said.

Aida Milasari of women's organization Gema Rumpun Perempuan added that most working people tended to avoid household chores and preferred to hire a maid on a low salary.

"Even if your salary is only Rp 1 million (about US$109), you still prefer to hire a maid, which may cost you only Rp 150,000 a month, with her having to work from dawn till dusk. Doesn't that make you feel good?" she said.

She encouraged employers to pay their domestic workers adequate salaries based on the prevailing local minimum wage, give them holidays and cover their health care expenses.

"Many people object to my idea as they say they cannot afford to pay their maids Rp 700,000 or Rp 1 million per month. So I have come up with a solution -- if the maids are staying in the house, provide for them properly and give them three meals a day, then you don't have to pay them the minimum wage. But I think the ideal figure is about Rp 400,000 a month," she said.

Aside from giving them the right to take holidays, Aida also said that employers should give "tips" to their maids to give them a chance to go out of the house and spend some valuable time away from work.

"They send all their money to their families in their home villages so they cannot use it to go out and have fun. Employers must consider giving them tips so that they can take a holiday," she said.

Roka, who works with a private sector firm and employs a live- in housemaid, said she gave her maid the day off on Sunday, but objected to giving her a wage increase or tips.

"I think she already gets what she needs," Roka said. (006)