Household workers

Household workers

It is a cause for hope when a leading national newspaper
devotes its editorial space to the needs of the disenfranchised.
The Jakarta Post's Aug. 12 editorial spoke out on behalf of
Indonesia's lowest level of female household workers, our
pembantus. These workers are the Ministry of Manpower's forgotten
constituents. They are not protected by minimum wage laws or
child labor laws; for the sake of foreign exchange they are sent
overseas to work like the African slaves of centuries ago. They
are exploited by Ministry of Manpower officials who control their
employment status, by immigration officials who issue their
travel documents, and by licensed employment agents who exploit
them in multiple ways -- before they even reach a work location,
where they are often treated little better than a piece of
household equipment (some pets receive more attention from
employers).

The editorial was correct to broaden the focus to include
domestic pembantus, not only those sent to work in other
countries. Some pembantus are well paid and treated with respect.
But many are required to work twelve or more hours a day (with
rest times that are set at the convenience of the employer, not
the needs of the worker), in some households seven days a week
(with one day a month free), with disgracefully low wages. Some
are physically disciplined at the whim of the employer, some are
expected to submit sexually to their employer. Yet many pembantus
will never complain about their situations, either from fear of
losing needed income, or fear of shaming their families by
complaining about their "benefactors", or from a misbegotten
loyalty-similar to that displayed by hostages toward their
captors. Perhaps some spirited pembantu will soon rise up to
become the champion of her colleagues across Indonesia. Maybe as
an encouragement we who employ pembantus ought to form informal
pacts among ourselves, pledging to meet certain minimal standards
relating to wage, work hours, medical care and holiday standards.
By undertaking an initiative like this, groups like the Darma
Wanita, the American Women's Association, British Women's
Association, and Women's International, could be effective forces
for improving the conditions of our working sisters.

DONNA K. WOODWARD

Medan, North Sumatra