Fatma’s Story: We are more than just domestic workers

For Fatma, home has always been offshore Indonesia. It was where she grew up, married and had two daughters. It was also everything she left behind when she moved to Singapore. Her eldest was only 14 months old at the time. Why decide to unanchor herself? Crippling debt, Fatma replied without preamble. “I came here because I wanted to provide for my family, make a house and give a better future to my daughters.”

Fatma’s first employer in Singapore, whom she began work for in 2006, tasked her with caring for the family’s newborn. She speaks with pride of the enduring friendship they formed.

Until now, they still contact me as a family [member] during Christmas…they’ll invite me to join together for lunch.

Fatma forged a similar lifelong relationship with her subsequent employer, who was afflicted with dementia. Fatma’s devotion is clear. “Sometimes I could not rest for 24 hours…I [needed] to be alert and patient.” On birthdays, Fatma was gifted presents and a day off. Fatma refers affectionately to her employer as Amma. She remained with her for four long years, right up till the woman’s passing. “The memory of [her] is very sweet and also very sad…watching her go from healthy and roaming around to the hospital where she passed away…seeing it with my own eyes.”

Of her current employer, Fatma affirms, “We are close as friends.” They have established a schedule in which Fatma gets Saturday off from caring for the household’s newborn. Her employer entrusted Fatma with teaching the child skills as fundamental as talking, singing and social etiquette. “Children will copy those around them – monkey see, monkey do.”

Fatma has also been active outside the sphere of work. Notably, she is involved in MDW empowerment and advocacy, in the form of a group called Swara Kita. “Swara Kita is an umbrella of Indonesian organizations, some belonging to domestic workers. It is a voice for all Indonesian organizations in Singapore.” Fatma is a member of the media and communications team, which involves managing Swara Kita’s Facebook page and Youtube channel. The organization has an emphasis on supporting the local MDW community. “We try to share information to all domestic workers in Singapore.” Fatma’s undying commitment to her advocacy work even extends to what are typically considered rest days, like Sundays and public holidays.

Fatma’s work doesn’t stop there – she also runs her own organization called Sagara. Sagara employs MDWs as English teachers for kindergarteners back in Jakarta, Fatma’s hometown. “This is my individual organization. English in Jakarta’s kampongs is not very good…it is taught as an extracurricular. So we teach them simple international English.” Fatma demonstrates an impressive desire to give back to her community at home.

When asked for tips on allowing one’s life outside of the workplace to flourish, Fatma emphasises several things. Firstly, advocating for your civil liberties, such as your right to religious expression. “On Sundays, I wear Muslim clothes…they’re okay with it, no problems.” “Before entering my room, they always knock on my door.” Good communication is key. For example, Fatma lets her current employers know as soon as the newborn tires of the meals being served, which can be fairly homogenous.

Opening up is very good for a good relationship. If you’re quiet, it’s not very good. If anything happens to the baby, I can talk to [my employers]. We try to understand them, like what they like about the house. If we find there is something wrong, we ask.

Secondly, maintaining a willingness to learn and improve. “Okay, I made a mistake. But at least we need to change and try harder. Don’t keep the sadness for too long.” One area in which Fatma’s positive attitude shines is language learning. Fatma’s affinity for languages stretches back to her JC days. Since then, she has picked up Chinese, Mandarin, Bahasa, Teochew and English. Of course, no language journey is complete without its slip-ups. But Fatma considers any mistakes an opportunity for learning, and that any corrections stem from a place of genuine care. “Wanting her to be better.” “Don’t be down…you just need to learn more.” A tip from her: be patient with yourself. “When I first came to Singapore, I could not speak Chinese. I listen and my eyes see. After that, I will ask if that was the meaning. We learn from small words.”

Fatma’s third tip is to be realistic. “In 2010, I thought I would go back home for good…but plans are different to reality.” There are limits to the luxuries that one can enjoy as an MDW, and while not ideal, Fatma works around it. “It’s about balancing your needs and wants.”

When Fatma looks to the future, she sees returning to Jakarta and rejuvenating her cultural roots. Her contract will end in 2023. “My planning is that [after] this contract, I will go back home.” Fatma’s youngest daughter is primary school-bound. Her older daughter is a little further along in life. “My daughter is already going to university. She wants to open a business.” In particular, her daughter is looking to open a cafe. “She likes to eat, she likes to cook.” Fatma sees her role as entirely devoted to supporting her daughter.

I’ve learned baking…here in the house, I sometimes make banana cake. I think I can do that and cook other foods [back in Indonesia].

Separately, Fatma hopes to utilise the skills she learned while running Sagara to open an English tuition centre back in Indonesia. It would be a natural next step for her to take, given her lifelong dedication to both childcare and teaching English.

Many of us tend to see MDWs in a pitiful light, considering them in need of saving and with no autonomy of their own. What Fatma’s story tells us is that this assumption could not be more wrong. MDWs have aspirations, passions and personalities of their own. Rather than looking down on them as feeble, we should look to bolster their existing identities and support their paths in life.

At the end of the day, even the staunchest cornerstone of a community needs to find her own anchor somewhere. For Fatma, that lies with her children. “I’m going home for good,” Fatma concludes. I’ve already been away for too long from my daughters. They need not only money, but a mother.”