Seasonal maids in high demand

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.