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