Domestic Staff

Finding the right maid, nanny, or driver can transform your household in Jakarta—learn how to recruit, pay fairly, and build a working relationship that lasts.

Finding maids in Jakarta, choosing domestic staff in Jakarta, arranging a nanny in Jakarta or hiring a driver in Jakarta can be an important part of settling into a new home. However, expatriates often arrive without knowing where to look, what different household roles normally include or which questions to ask before employing someone. A housekeeper—commonly called an asisten rumah tangga or ART, and still sometimes referred to as a pembantu—may clean, cook and manage everyday household tasks. A suster or pengasuh is normally employed primarily as a nanny, while some families require a trained caregiver for an elderly or unwell family member. Depending on your home, family and working hours, you may need full-time, part-time, live-in or live-out help.

The articles and resources on this page explain how expatriate households can find, interview and employ domestic staff responsibly in Indonesia. They cover practical matters such as checking references, defining duties, agreeing on salaries and working hours, arranging overtime and days off, paying the annual THR religious holiday allowance, and considering BPJS health coverage. You will also find guidance on communicating instructions, managing household expenses, employing childcare staff and working effectively with a family driver. Clear expectations are particularly important when language ability, childcare practices or previous working arrangements differ from your own. Exploring these resources before hiring—and referring to them as the employment relationship develops—can help you establish fair conditions, reduce misunderstandings and create a household that works well for both your family and your staff.