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Editorial: Homage to domestic helpers
Thu, 09/24/2009 11:49 AM | Opinion
We only learn about the value of water until the well dries up, goes an old saying. In the same way, we only learn about the value of the contributions made by our domestic helpers until they are gone for the holidays.
Many housewives view the coming of the Idul Fitri holiday season as a threat to their very comfort. Who will take care of the kids? What if the maids or chauffeurs don't come back?
These days, they are learning over again where their maids put their household items. Where did the maid put the mop and the cream cleanser? on which shelf are the cooking pots and spices? Where's the "on" switch on the microwave? What's left in the fridge? These are the kind of questions now reverberating is many Jakarta households.
On normal days, domestic helpers take care of all of this. In an added irony, they are often the de facto dwellers of many houses, since their employers frequently spend most of their time outside.
Jakarta residents have responded in different ways to this weeklong challenge. Some have relied on temporary maids offered by agencies. Many simply leave for vacation or stay in hotels as if the house is a scary place to live. Without domestic helpers, the house seems to have lost its charm and comfort, while the real foe is the household chores.
There is no one to cook or clean. No set tables or cooked food at lunchtime or dinnertime. No one to do the washing and ironing. No chauffeur to putting the golf bag and suitcases into the trunk of the car.
Unlike in most families in developed countries, doing household chores here is still an alien thing for many. One reason is the availability of cheap labor.
About a third of Indonesia's 100-million-strong workforce is either unemployed or partially employed, and about half of the country's population of 240 million earn less than US$2 dollar a day. Well-to-do families benefit from this endless supply of cheap labor.
This brief respite is a good time to reflect on the value of work our domestic helpers have given us, and also how well we have treated them.
They are an integral part of our lives, and yet every so often we overlook their vital contributions to our family. Seldom do we hear that they are given the minimum salary as stipulated by the government. There are no days off during the week. Chances are, they work 12 hours or more a day, since fixed working hours do not apply to them.
This is not to discount those enlightened souls who do treat their domestic workers well. There are those who regard them as part of their family, paying for their education and planning for a better future for them. But his tends to be the exception rather than the rule.
This explains why millions of young women brave alien languages and customs to work overseas. They go to foreign countries because they cannot find work at home.
When we read news about Indonesian maids being abused overseas, ask ourselves whether we treat our own maids well. Treating our own workers well starts at home.
Comfortable living is something we take for granted in the presence of our domestic helpers. Now that they are gone for the Idul Fitri holidays, we are helpless. Will we treat them much better afterward?
What's On
- Indonesia Furniture Fair
11/14/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center - Indonesia Maternity & Baby Expo 2009
11/20/2009 11/22/2009 Jakarta Convention Center
- Festival of India
10/29/2009 12/15/2009 Balai Kartini & Umar Ismail Hall, Jakarta
- Imagemakers of the Future: Photography exhibition
10/10/2009 11/30/2009 Alila Ubud Desa Melinggih Kelod Payangan, Gianyar 80572, Bali - Timeless Change
11/05/2009 12/07/2009 Ganesha Gallery, Four Seasons Hotel Jimbaran, Bali. - Choreography of Colours; Sardono W. Kusumo's first solo painting exhibition
11/12/2009 12/12/2009 vivi yip art room Annexe Ciputra World Marketing Gallery Jalan Prof Satrio Kav 11, Casablanca
Badeklangbuana (not verified), malaysia — Tue, 09/29/2009 - 3:06pm
my maid of 6 years came from kendal, jawa tengah earns RM550 per month with occasionally extra RM30-RM50 whenever i have extra. With all that earnings, she has now own her own plot of paddy field plus another piece of land that a house is now being built on it. She'll be going home this nov for holiday and to make sure everything is in order. Last april i took my family, with her to perform umrah in mecca. Everything sponsored plus some pocket money to buy souvenirs for family in Java. She was so happy and grateful.... I know another maid who was better paid but the only property she owned is her handphone which she keep changing every other months.Sivagnanam (not verified), China — Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:05am
As a foriegner lived in Indonesia for almost 8 years , our family members still highly value the contributions made by servant maids in our daily life . It is regrettable that their contributions to the local economy are not yet recognised by the officials . It is high time these migrant people are welcome into Jakarta with open hands and respected.Maverix (not verified), Jakarta — Fri, 09/25/2009 - 10:26am
As your Editorial correctly says we seldom pay these vital domestic helpers "the minimum salary as stipulated by the government". They typically have "no days off during the week" since chances are "they work 12 hours or more a day, since fixed working hours do not apply to them". But the irony is we insist Malaysia which employ a considerable number of Indonesian domestic helpers to implement minumum wage of RM 600 (Rp 1.6 juta) per month, one day off per week, free medical, etc. We should improve our own backyard first, then perhaps these domestic helpers don't have to work overseas, so they need not at times being harshly treated, and therefore we don't need to wear this pseudo-arrogant mask of insisting other countries to take care of our people well.Maria Pakpahan (not verified), Edinburgh — Fri, 09/25/2009 - 2:17am
Thank you for writing abouth the condition of Indonesian domestic workers in your editorial. Change starts from home, I believe. Maybe the Post should start to ask its workers to have at least a contract between them and their domestic workers. In the contact, at least it stated the amount of hours they should work ( 40 hours/week ?) or maybe 50 hours as a start... as this will give them one day off in a week. A discourse can be push and transfer become a reality when small steps are taken.Last but not least keep monitor and write on Indoensian domestic workers as part of Post contribution to the improvement of their working and living condition.