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Organization RUMPUN Tjoet Njak Dien (RTND) is Non Government Organization, a transformation of The Yogyakarta Women's Discussion Forum (FDPY) established by some female student activists in 1989. It took its name "Tjoet Njak Dien" from the famous Acehnese heroine at the end of the 19th century. RTND agrees to fully focus its work on advocating the rights of Domestic Workers. This category of workers represents a huge number of poor women (and a small number of men) but enjoys no protection whatsoever under the labour legislation. The plight of Domestic Workers embodies a number of strategic questions regarding class, labour and gender. Domestic Workers are often confronted with appalling labour conditions. Cases of violence and sexual abuse by their employers are not unusual though many remain unreported. Attempts at organising Domestic Workers meet with specific complications related to their isolated work situation and the invisibility of their suffering. For a long time RTND has built up contacts and trust with Domestic Workers from the Gunung Kidul area (rural) and Sleman (urban). Rising on rights, skill training and support in individual conflicts with the employer are the major activities undertaken with these workers. The other major activity is to support the building of the domestic workers union, which can be the first union of domestic worker in Indonesia. RTND also conducts research, information and documentation, and contributes to joint NGO efforts at proposing protective legislation for Domestic Workers. From its specific programme for Domestic Workers, RTND engages in a wide range of campaigns related to women's rights together with local and national women's organisations. Until May 2001 RTND was registered as a foundation, i.e. Yayasan Tjoet Njak Dien (YTND). After much discussion YTND was transformed into a membership-organisation. A special congress in May 2001 has led to the formal establishment of RTND as an association. The staffs of 21 persons is accountable to an eight-headed board, while final decision making is in the hands of an “assembly” of the 12 members of the association. Then in a congress in April 2002, RUMPUN as the umbrella organisation decide that has two sister organisations, RUMPUN Tjoet Njak Dien in Yogyakarta and RUMPUN Gema Perempuan in Jakarta, both are focus to advocate the Domestic Workers. |
| Last Updated on Tuesday, 09 June 2009 05:13 |
