WOMEN’S ROLE AS HOUSEMAIDS Sri Natin Gadjah Mada University Faculty of Law & Women's Study Center

Background Women  low education, inadequate skills (women can’t get a job in public sector) Rule : Men and women have an equal access for education and life. (Constitution of Indonesia and rule of education sector and millennium goal of education)

Realities 1.Women education is lower than that of men, esp. for village women  women can’t get access only in the informal sector such as factory, labours, women farmers, fisher woman and house maid  many of them become house maid 2. Culture : men is the head of the family (patriarchy culture), not only in the house but also in public e.g in politics, departments  most of top leaders are men, some institute  most of top manager are men 3.Economic situation  limited budget for people’s welfare Low educated people  not easy to get good job (women > men?

Problem of Housemaid 1.Limited skill and low education 2.No formal rule especially for informal sector 3.Low salary 4.Insecure condition: - if they sick : some house wives don’t care - no allowance such as THR (Idul Fitri allowance) - some of housemaids can’t go outside the house if there any problems or domestic violation the neighbors don’t know

 Housemaids who work abroad contribute big foreign exchange to Indonesia  Government must have big responsibility especially for education, life skills, informal regulation such as : THR allowance, minimum salary, etc.  Institution which is responsible for improving women's skills, knowledge e.g. advocation/legal aid to help then just in case there are some problems  Good law enforcement : state apparently should be more sensitive for the victims  Society : - more sensitive to the victims - must be aware of the importance of education and skills

I. Womens Role in Mangrove Forest 1.Papua : - Big island located in the most eastern part of Indonesia -Scarcely populated area -Traditional culture and civilization -Staple food : cassava -Rich of natural resources : gold, oil -Forests : mangrove forest (along the bank of Papua Island)

2. Bintuni Bay : -Focus : women’s activities in Bintuni Bay -Bintuni Bay :  located at the western part of Papua  it is surrounded by mangrove forests  ethic group : Wamena, Iromu, Sebiyan  dominant activities done by women : catching crabs and fishing's

3. Women’s role in mangrove forest : -Women work more than men do -Men : public sector only  most of them; farmers, work in factories, catching fish (temporary) -Two kind of women’s role:  Domestic sector : Washing dishes, cooking, taking care of the babies, doing laundry etc.  Public sector : - catching crabs and shrimps - done all day long - women get stable income - additional income : selling vegetable, lobster, fish, shrimps etc.

Conclusion : -Job between men and women : unbalanced -Women’s job is heavier then that of men -Women have double burden but they have little control to manage things such as money, education, etc. to buy something -Deforestation factories have been built (e.g. plywood) -Deforestation : destroy the environment (the source of income) -The society + the government  have to give more responsibilities e.g. to be selective in giving permit -Government has to make people aware of the balanced role between men and women