Seasonal maids in high demand

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Murtinah A.R., or Tin to her family and friends, is one of many women who see good business during the Idul Fitri holiday.

The phones at her domestic help supplying company, Jasa Abadi, has not stopped ringing for the past two weeks.

"We have supplied 150 housemaids ... and still we are getting orders," Tin told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Tin started her business in 2001 with 25 seasonal maids; demand soared to 50 in 2002 and 130 last year.

This year, with the Jakarta administration imposing fines on unskilled migrants to the capital, Tin has made some alterations in recruitment.

"We recruit maids mostly from villages in East Java. I have an arrangement with the administration of East Java, where prospective housemaids should register at their subdistrict administrations, which will arrange their transportation to Jakarta."

Another supplier, the Kasih Ibu Foundation, has recorded 94 bookings for seasonal maids so far.

"Last year, we received 50 requests. So you can see the demand is healthy and definitely increasing," said staffer Ani Setyawati.

To hire a seasonal maid, suppliers usually charge Rp 250,000 to Rp 300,000 (US$27.70) in administrative fees and between Rp 35,000 to Rp 60,000 a day for the domestic help, depending on the maid's skills.

A client is also usually required to hire the maid for a minimum seven days over the holiday.

Meanwhile, fees for nannies are higher at Rp 50,000 to Rp 70,000 a day, depending on the children's ages.

Cipto, who works at a private company, said he had hired a seasonal maid for two weeks during the holiday season for two consecutive years.

"The maid last year was quite good. But this year, the maid seems to be unfamiliar with an automatic washing machine, so she tore my shirt," he said.

Some families however, opt to search for a seasonal maid on their own.

"I hire a local girl who lives near our housing complex in Tangerang," said Fifi Luckita, who has an eight-month-old baby.

"The standard fee for seasonal maids here is Rp 25,000 a day," she added. "She said she did not mind working during Idul Fitri, but I told her to take a day off."

"But it is important to brief her first about how to use the household appliances, do the chores and other dos and don'ts," Fifi added.