NGO demands housemaid ruling

NGO demands housemaid ruling

YOGYAKARTA: Dozens of people marched to the local provincial
legislative council on Monday, demanding regulations to protect
housemaids from possible abuse and arbitrary treatment.

The protesters, organized by the nongovernmental organization,
Tjoet Njak Dien Foundation, staged a performance at the
legislature building depicting the weak bargaining power of
housemaids against their employers.

The coordinator of the protesters, Winarto, said that the move
was aimed at reminding councillors of the draft of regulation on
housemaids submitted by the Tjoet Njak Dien Foundation early last
year.

"It's been more than a year since we submitted the
draft last year. Many housemaids are not well paid, some others
are abused and unprotected," Winarto said.

Deputy speaker of the provincial legislative council Nur
Achmad Affandi, who received the protesters, denied allegations
that the councillors had ignored the draft. He said that
Commission E for social affairs was currently conducting a
study on the matter.

Tasikmalaya is one of few regencies in the country to have
already adopted regional regulations on housemaids.

"Our concern over this matter is not only driven by housemaids
employed in the city, but also on the fact that many
Yogyakartans, mostly from Gunung Kidul regency, work as
housemaids in many big cities across the country," Achmad said.
(44)