Concern for our domestic workers

Concern for our domestic workers

Quoting a Straits Times report, several newspapers in this
city carried reports Monday of the anguish suffered by Hartati in
Singapore. This 15-year-old girl from a village in Central Java
works as a domestic helper in Singapore. At present, she is being
hospitalized at Singapore's Tan Tock Seng Hospital, suffering
from malnutrition and wounds. Hartati's suffering is reported to
be the result of abuse by her employers in Singapore.

Hartati's fate provides us with a valuable lesson. At the very
least, it prompts us to be more concerned with the fate of those
who are working as domestic workers abroad. The fact is they
would not have to undertake these jobs if work was sufficiently
available here at home.

Concerned officials and employment agents should consider this
case with their conscience. Neither feelings of regret nor
statements of concern are enough. A proactive attitude and
concrete action is needed to prevent, or at the very least to
minimize, the possibility of such occurrences.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta