Working together to end poverty and injustice

Inaq wins fair pay for women workers

Speaking out against discrimination in Indonesia.

Women in Indonesia challenge injustice and discrimination to win fair pay for women workers.

Inaq Rumenah is a labourer on a tobacco farm. The tobacco season lasts only six months and harvesting and processing the leaves is difficult, back-breaking work.

Inaq is also a divorcee, struggling to earn enough money to feed and clothe her children on her own.

“I found out that for working an eight hour day, the men were paid 25,000 rupiah and the women only 10,000 rupiah. Why were we being paid less for the same work?” asks Inaq. “I’d attended a human rights workshop provided by [Oxfam partner] APIK NTB, and decided to organise meetings between the female workers and our employers to demand fair pay. At first they didn’t listen to us and so we went on strike. Then they listened, and now we are paid the same as the men and we all receive a one hour break at noon.”

Today Inaq Rumenah can support herself and her family. Inaq tells us: “With the extra pay I can now afford to send my 16-year old daughter, Seni, to the high school. She’s really working hard and wants to become a teacher. I’m so proud of her.”

Find out more

• Gender justice in Indonesia
  Oxfam works with the Women’s Association for Justice (APIK) in the West Nusa Tenggara Province and the city of Makassar in campaigning for fairer treatment of women. We are also fighting to stop domestic violence and to protect the human rights of Indonesian workers overseas.
• Meet Beauty Erewati, founder and director of APIK NTB
• A new start
  Find out how APIK NTB are helping women like Genik make a new start in life to support themselves and their families
• Our partner: APIK NTB have been working with Oxfam since 2001.