SMS: Absence of domestic heroes

Mon, 10/06/2008 9:52 AM  |  Reader's Forum

Most Indonesian women will tell you that the Lebaran holidays brings her nothing but exhaustion and mental grief. It is that one week in the year when mothers actually have to do the dishes, cook for their family, do the laundry and all the other normal things millions of other women do in western countries every day.

I am an expatriate living in Bekasi with my family. We don't have a maid simply because in our experience, maids were never reliable. Lebaran was never any different for me or my family.

In relation to this, I was disappointed to read the articlehomage to housemaids, our domestic heroes" on the front page of the Sunday issue (Sept. 28).

I remember a time when mothers were labeled as heroes. How can we let mothers be stripped of this title and be given to uneducated maids? I'm a mother, so that really hurt! But perhaps this is what many Indonesian women want. It is a simple matter of overindulgence.
PATRICIA
Bekasi, West Java

It's a privilege to have domestic staff, but I'll manage without them. I think it's time to appreciate how hard their jobs are and I always so happy to see their smile when they receive their Idul Fitri bonus. Wish them a safe trip home.
ENDAH VAN BEELEN
Jakarta

I value them for their loyalty to us and for making our home safe and comfortable. We appreciate them by providing an equally safe home to live, time off work and treating them with respect.
JACY ARQUISOLA
Jakarta

A helper plays an important role in carrying out domestic jobs such as cleaning, laundry, cooking etc. Nevertheless, their bosses often show inhumane treatment such as torture and other cruelties.

To protect domestic helpers from such treatments, the government together with legislative bodies needs to dispose a law/regulation to organize the rights and obligations of employers and helpersincluding wages, working hours, holiday time etc. After the law is validated, we hope that we do not hear bad news about treatment against domestic helpers in the country.
ABDUL RAHIM
Tangerang, Banten

I am very fortunate, my family - myself, my wife and my daughter - are being served by live-in domestic staff consisting of a married couple with two children, a driver and a gardener.

They are all allowed to keep their hobbies to breed chickens, fish, birds, dogs and valuable plants, which makes them reluctant to leave their pet projects unattended.

During the Idul Fitri holidays they stay and remain doing their tasks. As the eldest of an extended family of 12 brothers and sisters, to celebrate Idul Fitri together with their children and grandchildren at my house, poses no problem at all. Alhamdulillah!
SOEBAGJO SOETADJI
Jakarta

Domestic workers are not everything to run my household. I don't depend on them. I can live with or without them. Washing machine and other electrical house appliances are already our domestic workers. Taking care of our own house would make us diligent, creative and healthy.
DAHLIA SITOEMEANG
Jakarta

The workers are part of my family. I take care of them and miss them. We are part of the same family.
JUERGEN SCHOEFER
Berlin

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