For many women affected by the 2018 earthquake in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, rebuilding their lives was a solitary effort.  UNDP’s Programme for Earthquake and Tsunami Reconstruction Assistance (PETRA) has opened new opportunities for women who have defied stereotypes and have helped their community build forward better.

“I have six years of experience in construction, but I don’t make as much money as men despite doing the same work,” said Sriwahyuni, noting that her community considered construction largely the realm of men. “It’s unfair, but there is nothing I can do about it because I need to support myself and my child,” said the 35-year old single mother of one.

The gender pay gap has impacted the area’s most vulnerable women.

UNDP, through the PETRA project, has helped these women defy stereotypes and use their construction skills in the project’s reconstruction of vital infrastructure in the region.

PETRA has worked with local government stakeholders at the district level and women’s organizations, such as the Social Affairs Agency, Indonesian Women Headed Households (Pekka), Indonesia Women Coalition (KPI) and Women’s School (Sekolah Perempuan) to promote gender equality and social inclusion.

“My family's finances were affected by the earthquake and then the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Marhamah, referring to the double burden the community is experiencing currently. “But I’m glad that we have the opportunity for women to work in construction and help improve the family's income” she added. Marhamah is among 31 women working on the reconstruction of the one of the schools in the area.

“I am happy that our wages for the work we do as part of the reconstruction of Pemenang school are the same as men. I can save for my children's education,” Sriwahyuni said.

In addition to promoting gender equality, PETRA has also advocated for their rights, particularly with regard to equal pay.

“The PETRA project has done well in terms of mainstreaming GESI in the construction sector. The government of North Lombok is committed to designing specific policies to ensure women actively engage in the construction sector in the future,” said Danny Karter Febrianto, Vice Regent of North Lombok.

The head of the Department of Social Affairs, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection noted its commitment to increasing women's capacity through training for women working in all sectors.

“As part of our commitment to increasing the capacity of women workers and providing protection under our watch, we guarantee that they will not experience gender-based violence or harassment at the construction sites” said Irvan Bengu, project coordinator PT. Ervan Prima Abadi JV. The contractors have also committed to increasing the number of women workers at these construction sites.

UNDP’s Programme for Earthquake and Tsunami Infrastructure Reconstruction Assistance (PETRA) project is implemented by UNDP with financial support from the Federal Republic of Germany through its development bank, KfW.

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Text: Wigatiningsih and Nur Jannah

Photos: Zaenudin

Edited by Ranjit Jose