Working women criticized

JAKARTA (JP): A former Supreme Court judge believes the growing prevalence of married women in the work force may be the root of problems within their families.

Bismar Siregar told a seminar here yesterday that many women now work to help their families make ends meet.

"But working women, especially working mothers, have occasionally been blamed as the source of family disharmony because of their activities outside the home."

Siregar said: "The government should increase the salary of civil servants to allow male staff to support their families so that their wives don't have to go out and work."

The seminar was sponsored by the women's section of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), which plans to feature experts in various fields in a monthly discussion on problems affecting families.

Organizers said the discussion was timely because changes in society have also exacerbated family problems.

"I am not against women working," Siregar said. "But I also believe that if the husbands can be the sole breadwinner, then wives would not have to spend time working, and ultimately neglect the children."

Couples should be informed on religious teachings and understand that marriage is part of religious obligations, he said.

"They should not get married solely out of lust because this type of union will never work," he added.

He said a deeper comprehension of religion would assist both parents in making wise choices for the benefit of their families.

"For example, if a wife wants to work because she has the skills, the husband should let her do it, but the wife should not sacrifice her family responsibility," he said.

"I know that a woman's right to work is part of human rights. But I don't think this is totally correct because Islamic teachings place a greater stress on obligations to respect the rights of others, which include the rights of the family."

The organization announced it will also establish a public service hotline service and a crisis center on family issues.

Of the over 200 million people in Indonesia, more than 2.82 million women made up 35.3 percent of the 7.99 million workers last year. By the end of the government's sixth five-year development plan in 1999, women are expected to make up 53.1 percent of the work force. (12)