Seminar on housemaids

Seminar on housemaids

JAKARTA: A seminar here has concluded that the government
should issue a new regulation on housemaids, which would give
them the same rights as other workers.

The seminar on violence against housekeepers, which was
organized by several non-governmental organizations, including
Komnas Perempuan (Human Rights Commission for Woman), noted that
the current government regulations on housemaids do not fully
cover their rights and only benefit their employers.

"The labor ministry should issue a new regulation to protect
the rights of housekeepers and put them in the same position as
other workers," Tien A.R., of Jasa Abadi foundation, a company
that supplies housekeepers, said at the seminar on Wednesday.

Dhevy Setya Wibawa of Komnas Perempuan said that due to the
absence of such a regulation, housemaids often fall victims to
violence by their employers.

"There are many reported cases of housemaids being
maltreated," she said, adding that many people treated their
housemaids like slaves.--JP