Jakarta – A Javanese tradition that holds that domestic workers must be considered as part of the families that employ them is a major hurdle for passage of a House domestic worker protection bill, says an NGO.

In the tradition, called ngenger, a relative from the village comes to the city to work for a related family that is often more stable financially. "Normally, [the poorer] relatives do the housework," said Domestic Workers Advocacy Network (Jala PRT) Lita Anggraini.

"Some are child workers who are sent to school in exchange for housework," she added. She said that the custom was no longer popular and much more common among Javanese people 30 years ago.

"There have been changes in society, but the government has failed to take that into account," she said. "The government thinks that ngenger still exists," she added.

At an international convention for domestic worker protection last year, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said that consideration should be given to the Indonesian tradition. The convention should issue a recommendation, and not a legally-binding regulation, on protecting domestic workers, he said.

Lita said the government's position could hinder passage of the House's domestic worker protection bill, which is part of the legislators' 2010 national legislation program.

Faisol Reza, a special staffer to Muhaimin, said that the minister supported the protection of domestic workers. "It is the job of the ministry to support protection," he said.

However, some domestic employment suppliers and legislators said that if the bill is enacted it would be harder to for people to find domestic work, he added.

Reza said the minister's statement was not intended to hamper efforts to protect domestic workers, but instead considered all views. The tradition of ngenger still exists, Reza said. "We cannot reject that perspective," he added.

Lita said she welcomed deliberation on the House bill. A number of Jala's suggestions had been included, she added. However, Lita said that Jala was concerned about the regulation of suppliers of domestic workers, age requirements and daily working hours.

"Jala had suggested seven to eight working hours per day," she said.

Jala also said that the role of suppliers should be limited to recruitment and training. The government should enhance the role of work skill training centers (BLK) and provide more information, she added. (map)