The status of housemaids

The status of housemaids

I refer to your article Nursafinah lifts migrant worker's
welfare in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 20. I admire Nursafinah's
fight to change her position in life from housemaid to
entrepreneur and for establishing the Indonesian Migrant Workers
Union (IMWU). However, I am saddened by her remark regarding
housemaid's salaries. I have observed that newspapers give the
position of housemaid a negative connotation, which is
unrealistic and unfair.

Nowadays, busy families need help to manage housework, like
cleaning, washing, cooking and baby sitting. Employing a
housemaid releases housewives from this burden.
While in affluent societies, these jobs can largely be done by
machines.

The position of housemaid is considered inferior. This opinion
presumably has historical roots with the (poor) treatment of
maids by the royal family setting a precedent for rich families
in colonial times. Also, the status of housewives in our society
is still low.

Although the term "housemaid" has long been changed to
Pembantu Rumah Tangga, a term supposedly more respectful, the
appreciation of housemaids has not changed.

PAUL PERMADI

Jakarta