Familization of Indonesian Domestic Workers in Singapore

Schemes introducing foreign domestic workers (FDWs) to Singapore on a large scale are put in place only after World War II. This is a necessity, rather than a luxury, when the need for economic development requires the labor participation of local women. The new FDWs are mostly women, who work in households to help with caregiving and chores; they are hired and paid on contract terms, yet they often become part of the family. This new relationship is intriguing because it is not based on any sort of blood tie; rather, it is a fixed-term contractual arrangement involving monetary reward. On the other hand, this new “family member” has little power to negotiate about the work that they do. This chapter reports on a survey study involving 352 Indonesian FDWs in Singapore. The findings support a new concept called “familization” that allows us to make sense of this new phenomenon. It will perhaps give insights into how a contractual relationship as such can become a mutually satisfying experience for both the employing family and their new family member.