Mien supports sending maids to Saudis

Mien supports sending maids to Saudis

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Women's Roles Mien Sugandhi said
yesterday that she supports the export of maids to Saudi Arabia
provided that the workers are covered by adequate legal
protection.

Mien criticized local mass media for "exploiting the negative
side" of life that Indonesian maids face in Saudi Arabia and for
overlooking the positive.

The minister made the remarks to journalists after discussing
the issue with Saudi Arabia's Ambassador Abdullah A. Alim at her
office.

"What's important is that their qualifications and legal
protection be better," she said.

Debates on the export of maids to Saudi Arabia resurfaced when
the House of Representatives demanded that the government stop
the business due to reports of physical and sexual abuse.

Some House members, who went to Saudi Arabia on a fact-finding
mission, reported that over 1,500 maids have been raped by their
employers, causing pregnancies in many cases.

According to government statistics, there are an estimated
400,000 Indonesians working in the oil-rich kingdom, most of
which are without legal protection. The number is the second
largest after that of Egyptians.

Mien said she visited the Indonesian consulate in Jedah during
her recent minor haj pilgrim and spoke to about 60 Indonesian
workers.

From the discussion it was concluded that some Indonesian job
seekers are stranded or treated poorly in Saudi Arabia partly
because they lack the necessary skills, she said.

Many also get in trouble for lying about their ages, she said.
Employers need maids that are aged between 25 and 30 years and,
she added, mature enough to handle sophisticated household
equipment.

"But (employment) brokers have falsified the ages and
educational levels of some job seekers. Trouble begins when the
maids don't know what to do in their workplace," he said.

Mien said the problem need "serious attention" because it has
to do with Indonesia's good name abroad and the dignity of women.

Ambassador Salim acknowledged that such problems exist but not
as serious as reported in the press. He declined to elaborate.
(pan)