The Speaker

Sri Palupi is the executive director of the Institute for Economic and Social Rights based in Jakarta. She has been head of the Women’s Studies Centre at Soegijapranata Catholic University and has been the co-ordinator of the Research Division at Jakarta Social Institute for four years. Her research in the last 15 years covers subjects such as women welfare, migrant workers and poverty alleviation. She came into public prominence for investigating reports of Indonesian soldiers raping ethnic Chinese women in Jakarta in May 1998. She has done a recent study on Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore, which was mired in a media controversy after the Jakarta Post interviewed her on her findings.

Abstract

A 16 May Jakarta Post interview with Sri Palupi on her research about Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore carried the headline “Singapore a Killing Field for RI Migrant Workers”. It drew an indignant response from the Singapore Embassy. Sri Palupi wrote to the paper to make it clear that she never used the term “killing field”. However she maintains that working conditions for Indonesian domestic workers remain a serious problem. The data for her study was gathered from a field trip here where she met officials, NGOs and maid agencies. She also conducted interviews with Indonesian domestic workers in Singapore as well as those who have gone home. Her report highlighted the high rate of Indonesian domestic workers falling to their death from tall buildings and many instances of abuse. She also feels that dialogue is much needed in this complex issue. In the interest of furthering that dialogue, Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a Singapore group seeking to improve working conditions for foreign domestic workers has brought Sri Palupi to share her findings, insights and perspectives with Singaporeans. Working with ISEAS, TWC2 hopes to reach a section of the Singapore public that believes in taking a learned critical approach to sensitive social problems.

ISEAS has the pleasure of inviting you to the Seminar.

By Fax: 6775-6264 / 6775-6259

The Seminar Co-ordinator
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace
Singapore 119614

I will be  able  to attend the Seminar on A Study on Indonesian Domestic Workers in Singapore by Ms Sri Palupi on Wednesday, 13 July 2005 at 10.30 am in Seminar Room II, ISEAS.

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Please complete the Reply Form and return by fax to the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies or email: may@iseas.edu.sg Monday, 11 July 2005.

Notes:       1.     All registrations are on a first-come-first served basis, and will be taken as confirmed unless otherwise notified.

2.         Parking is available at the Heng Mui Keng Complex Carpark, located next to ISEAS Building.  At the carpark, please take the lift to LEVEL 6 (Lobby) and exit through the main entrance to ISEAS Building.  For the location map, please logon to <http://www.iseas.edu.sg/abiseas.html>.

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