JARAK, network
of NGOs on child labour issues, was established
The Network
IPEC supported several Action
Programmes to strengthen NGOs in dealing with working children.
One of the programmes was together with Lembaga Pengkajian Kemasyarakatan
dan Pembangunan (LPKP), which initiated
and facilitated a network of NGOs and various activities including
a national network meeting (1998). As a result an Executive Committee
was established to execute the programme and activities of networking.
The network is called JARAK. Now more then
60 NGOs from most provinces in Indonesia participated in the network
and their activities included special training programmes, exchange
programmes, seminars, etc.
Strengthening NGOs
IPEC developed a comprehensive
programme called "Strengthening the Capacity for Design, Monitoring
and Evaluation (DME) of child labour programmes. The DME programme
has been used in Indonesia since 1993 through the Bina Swadaya Training
Division. In previous phases of the programme, the emphasis was
on translating the IPEC Manual and adapting it to local needs, and
four courses were conducted which trained about 80 NGO staff on
child labour issues and on management of their programmes. In addition,
Bina Swadaya oversaw small pilot projects with organizations selected
after the training.
Together with JARAK
and Bina Swadaya, a new programme
is running, which will:
ntrain
(potential) child labour partners in Eastern Indonesia
nestablish a one-stop shop facility
run by JARAK for organizations who were trained and require services
related to project design and implementation and child labour issues.
The service will also provide advice on resource mobilization and
public relations
Achievements
nThe
network receives interest, more and more NGOs want to become a member
nJARAK will become a member of the
National Steering Committee on child labour and is therewith recognized
by the authorities
If they receive wages they are generally lower
than adults, ranging between 100.000 and 150.000 a month.
Supply
(parents)
Demand
(employers)
Desperate
need for income
Lower
salaries
Work is
seen as lighter and less arduous than for example construction
or agriculture
More obedient
and easier to "educate" to the employers' requirements
It provides
a guaranteed and regular income
Company
for their children
A way of supporting a poor family and being philanthropic
Parents
see domestic work as an opportunity for girls to get a skill
which will lead them to better income and opportunities
Child domestic workers carry out works that should be done by
the adults
Access
to more opportunities
Employment as a domestic requires no formal qualifications
How to reach and assist child domestic workers?
In Indonesia no programme has targeted child domestic workers yet.
IPEC identified this group of children as a high priority now. A
large programme is expected to start next year.
Based on experience in other countries, possible
interventions are:
nEducation: since
drop-outs are prime candidates for domestic work, keeping them in
school must be encouraged. At school a programme of career counseling
can include raising awareness of their rights and how they can seek
help
nLegal campaign:
lobbying for national or regional protection
nAwareness-raising:
a publicity campaign to
nraise public awareness of the issue
and counter the traditional view that child domestic work is the
best work for young girls,
n provide child domestic workers themselves
with information
nraise the awareness of the government
and community leaders
Direct action, such as legal assistance, guidance
on negotiating access to education with employers, counseling services,
locations for leisure time, or safety shelters in case of abuse
Prevention by awareness-raising, alternative
income-generating activities
My name is Purwanti. I work from 5.30 am
until 10.00 pm. I feel tired most of the time. The first agreement
was that I had responsibility for care of the child (aged
18 months) and had to wash clothes. After one week, I was
given the task of cooking 3 meals per day. Now I have to prepare
the making of ice to sell in the boss's shop (warung) and
also have to assist in the shop also.
If I have nothing to do, I may have time
to take a small rest, but the boss gives her other tasks.
I never get a day off and have been home only twice since
April 1996. On these occasions I was allowed no more than
4 days. I get food three times a day but do not the same access
to food as members of the employer's family. I eat after everyone
else in the house has eaten and sometimes I only get spoiled
food.
If I don't eat the food, my boss gets angry
and so, to avoid that, I will secretly throw away the food.
My boss children also do not respect me and blame me for all
kind of things. When they make the window dirty or write on
the glass with pens, they will tell their mother it was me,
then she will get angry with me. The elder daughter got angry
with me just because I wore a nice dress. These condition
make me think that I'm not feeling at home.
