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