Sita W Dewi, Jakarta – Dozens of women workers grouped under the Women's Action Committee rallied in front of the official residence of Jakarta Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday, to demand equal rights.

Rally coordinator Listiyowati said the move was in protest against labor policies that disadvantaged women workers.

"Salaries for women workers are lower than those for men based on the assumption that men are the head of households, whereas many women bear the financial burden alone," she said.

She also pointed out that many female workers did not receive numerous allowances that were given to male colleagues. Men, for example, receive a spouse allowance that women do not.

Many female employees' rights guaranteed by manpower laws, including menstrual leave, maternal leave, facilities for women working night shifts and breast-feeding rooms at work, have not been applied, she said.'

"Many female workers have been dismissed after giving birth," she said, adding that the committee also demanded the endorsement of the domestic workers bill.

Jokowi later invited the women into his residence to directly hear their grievances. "Their demands make sense. They only want reasonable working conditions, reasonable salaries and reasonable lives. I hope I can fight for their aspirations," said Jokowi, who is the presidential candidate of the Indonesia Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/05/01/women-workers-demand-jokowi-fight-their-rights.html