Demand for maids, nannies high after Idul Fitri

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Ayit, in his 30s, a resident of Rawabunga in East Jakarta grumbled that he had to return home empty-handed on Monday from an agency that supplies nannies, because the agency had run out of girls an hour earlier.

"Those nannies are selling like hot cakes. I went to the office at 6 a.m., just as the agency staffer had told me. Unfortunately, others had come an hour earlier than me."

The women at the heart of this trade, who seek jobs as maids or nannies, had just arrived in Jakarta on Sunday evening from two Javanese towns -- Cilacap and Purwokerto.

Ibu Rum, an employee at Karya Guna Asih agency in Mangga Besar said that most employers had expressed their preference to employ certain nannies and maids from certain areas over other areas.

"Some employers are very picky about trivial things. Some seek widows who have no children so the nannies would not have to always return to their hometowns, but others want single girls," Rum explained.

"We work on a 'first-come, first-served' basis and we have a long lineup of employers 'ordering' nannies," she added.

Her agency charges employers a fee of Rp 500,000 for each domestic servant hired.

Rino, who works at Sinar Persatuan agency in Pademangan, North Jakarta said that he brought five would-be maids into the capital from East Lampung on Sunday afternoon.

"We were able to get them jobs first thing in the morning on (Monday) as there were at least 10 would-be employers on the waiting list," he said.

At Sinar Persautan employers pay Rp 400,000 for each maid they hire.

Live-in maids with no work experience will then get Rp 300,000 per month, while those with a year of experience will be paid Rp 350,000. Maids who can cook get Rp 400,000.

Nannies' salaries range between Rp 550,000 and Rp 750,000.

Meanwhile, Suyani, in her 40s, a resident of Glodok in West Jakarta said that she had to get two nannies for her baby boy and four-year-old daughter.

"I just sent a nanny back to the agency because my baby was scared of her loud voice. I need to look for a gentle one. My baby's former nanny did not return here after she went to her hometown and got married," she sighed.

Suyani asked her friends to speak with their nannies and maids about bringing a relative or friend back after Idul Fitri, but to no avail.