Female Indonesian workers

Female Indonesian workers

From Sinar

I am commenting on the article by Ms. Ulmi Kulsum Muzayin (Sinar, No. 35/Tahun II, July 15, 1995) entitled A success story of Female Indonesian Workers.

I have been working for about two years in Saudi Arabia. This is the first time I heard about a woman who admits that she has been successful as a worker in foreign country. But I agree with H. Aunollah Abdul Karim who said that "there are only a few of us who are successful." I am sure Aunollah said the truth, it is a reality. It is Ulmi that has manipulated the fact. The ratio is 40 percent for the successful and 60 percent for those who fail. It should be noted that those who succeed are not working with families or landlords.

My case is different. I am working as a shop assistant and at the same time as a driver. So I know a lot of what is happening in the real life.

According to Rusdin, who was once a staffer at the Indonesian Consulate in Medina, many female Indonesian workers fled their landlords' families, because they were not paid, tortured etc. (in 1990). A nurse in the Maternity Hospital disclosed that a maid was raped by her landlord, and (please excuse me) her vagina had to be stitched. Many came to me to confess that their landlords had treated them badly, or even raped them. So, I wish Ulmi did not expose her success by writing in the media. And I would like to call on the authorities concerned with sending (female) workers abroad to review the policy.

ABDUL RAHIM SALIM

Saudi Arabia