Sending workers to Europe

Sending workers to Europe

From Media Indonesia

As of July 9, 2001 the dispatch of Indonesian labor to the Middle East has been suspended. The reason may be inhuman treatment of our citizens working there. It is strange that this stipulation is effective only for the Middle East. Another question may be asked why female labor has been sent only as domestic maids.

Once I toured Europe and stayed quite a while in Italy. I found that a domestic helper worked for a household only between two and four hours a day and could therefore work for two or three households. A domestic helper was paid by the hour. I also found that there was no torture and that a domestic helper would be asked not to return to a particular household if his/her work was unsatisfactory. In the same way, if a domestic helper was not happy to work in a particular household, he/she could simply stop working there. Usually, a domestic helper would clean the floor, do the washing and iron clothes. Only rarely would they be asked to cook. Most of them were male and came from Bangladesh, the Philippines, India and Pakistan.

On Sunday, domestic helpers would enjoy their holiday and got together with their buddies in a square in from of Termini railway station -- the largest railway station in Rome, particularly between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

I suggest that we start sending our labor, male particularly, to Europe, or Italy in particular. What they will mostly need will be honesty and professionalism as domestic helpers.

DR. F. PUDIYANTO SURADIBROTO

Jakarta