Event
A Homeworker’s Road to being Independent
2 March 2016Author: admin
Sriami is an example of independent women in the suburban. She lives in Kendedes, Candirenggo Village, Singosari Subdistrict, Malang Regency. She started to work as homeworker by sewing baby blankets since 2008.
She was divorced in 2011 because her husband was cheating. Having a son and a daughter, her son lived with his father in the Surabaya, while her daughter accompanied Sriami in Singosari.
Sriami started to tailor when she was offered by her friend to work as a baby blanket seamstress with wage of Rp. 1250, – / sheet. Since then, Sriami along with 25 other women in the Singosari area working on it.
Beside of that, her neighbor asked Sriami to sell and serve coffee at night for the citizens and community leaders who held an activity in the sports hall next to her house. This job did not require much effort, so she agreed to do it and she got quite a lot of additional income.
Currently her wage is decreased from Rp 1,250 to Rp 1,000/ sheet. Although she had been trying to negotiate it, the employer can not fulfil her demand due to rising material prices and decreasing order.
In a day, Sriami worked from 8 am to 3 pm and produced 20-21 sheet of blanket when working alone. If her daughter helped her, they can get 30 sheets. With payment Rp. 1,000/ sheet, Sriami can earned Rp 20,000 to Rp 30,000 per day. But she have to pay the production cost (such as thread) in which Rp 10,000 per 100 blankets.
Since participated in Sekolah Perempuan Pekerja Rumahan (SPPR) or School of Women Homeworkers’ activities and formed homeworker group, Sriamiâs attitude began to change. She is able to speak in the public. Sriami dared enough to explain about homeworkers in various village’s events. Thus, most of the people around her house got to know about homeworkers.
In addition, Sriami also explained and advocated the group formation to neighborhood leaders and invited some people to join the group.
She also attended women jamboree in Jakarta, held by The National Network Friends of Indonesian Women Homeworkers (MWPRI) with the Institute of Women for Empowerment (IWE). Sriami dare to speak in front of the Deputy Minister of Manpower to discuss the homeworkers’ rights in order to get decent wages and health insurance.
Now, Sriami started doing blanket business development by herself. Sriami and her daugher made their own blankets and marketed themselves in Jakarta every month. Until now, she has been sending 90 blankets in 5 months. In Jakarta, Sriami sold the blanket Rp. 40.000, – each for medium-size (1.5 x 1.5 m) and Rp. 50.000, – for a larger size (XL).
From the story, we can see Sriamiâs effort to struggle, keep trying, being independent and develop herself and her environment. Her actions can be a good example for other women homeworkers.
 Reported by: Zuhro Rosyidah (MWPRI Field Facilitator)