Women get physical over 'short pants' test
Women get physical over 'short pants' test
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A leading councilor expressed his concern over allegations of
what was termed sexual harassment against dozens of women
applying for jobs as security officers with the Jakarta
administration.
Syamsidar Siregar of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction
said that what was alleged, if true, was completely
unacceptable."
The Warta Kota daily reported on Tuesday that the "sexual
harassment" took place during physical tests conducted as part of
the recruitment process by the Jakarta Public Order Agency.
They women were seeking jobs as officers of the agency and
police assistants.
The paper quoted a number of female applicants as saying that
they were required to change out of their track suits into "short
pants". They also said they were shocked to learn that the tests
would be conducted by men instead of women.
"We would urge that such practices in the recruitment process
be scrapped," Syamsidar told The Jakarta Post.
The recruiting agency could still conduct fitness tests
without requiring the applicants to expose "sensitive parts" of
their bodies, she added.
Male applicants are also required to undergo fitness tests.
Warta Kota ran a picture of them squatting with their tops off.
In all, there were 4,000 applicants for the 2,500 posts.
The Jakarta Administration denied the Warta Kota report.
"It is not true that sexual harassment took place during the
selection process. The tests were conducted in line with the
standard procedures," Budi Astuti, the head of the Jakarta Human
Resources Department (BKD)'s selection division, told reporters.
She admitted that the physical tests, conducted by the Jakarta
Military Command's physical fitness testing unit (Jasdam),
required candidates to wear pants and short-sleeved shirts. The
testing of women candidates should be carried out by women
examiners, she added.
"The tests are conducted in a closed room. There is no
physical contact as the examiners cannot get any closer than four
meters from the candidates," Budi said.
Such tests are common in the police and military to ascertain
candidates' overall levels of physical fitness, she said.
Jakarta administration spokesman Muhayat, backing Budi, said
that fitness tests were mandatory for such positions.
"Each profession has its requirements. People who do not want
to be examined should not apply," he said.
Besides the fitness tests, the candidates also had to fulfill
administrative, medical and psychological requirements.