[THEMATIC REPORT]

STREET SWEEPER OFFICERS IN THE CITY OF SEMARANG

Reported by: Amama Ira Amalia Priyono

Becoming a janitor as a street sweeper does not stop Sumirnah from changing her fate in the middle of Semarang City. This woman of three children proves that a mother also has great power to oppose fate during a pandemic. She did not just give up, she did her noble task with all her heart until the prayer she prayed was finally answered. The people of Semarang City, who have seen how clean the pedestrians and asphalt along Jalan Imam Bonjol are, that's where Sumirnah complained about her fate. Clenching her hands controlling her broom, she worked while most people were still fast asleep. Early mornings are the horizons that she has persevered throughout the ages as trash and fallen leaves become a blessing.

She has been the backbone of the family since her husband, Darsono, passed away in recent years. The late Darsono himself lived as a janitor in Semarang City since 1995. She has now replaced that position. It's not an easy path when she plays her role as a janitor. There is a bitter pill to swallow when her youngest child, Adi Joko, almost dropped out of school. That is because the income of being a street sweeper at that time was only paid IDR 800,000 per month. The wages are far from appropriate for being a single parent with three children. Just to be able to eat and drink, at that time. Not feeling discouraged, she continued to be grateful while praying. She just hopes that there will be a miracle one day so that she can deliver her child to the gates of success.

Amid her deprivation, Sumrinah never gave up. The effort she had done, when in the middle of the night Sumrinah often woke up from her sleep to pray and pray to God. As the backbone of the family, he believes that sustenance and health have been arranged by God. Her job is just to try hard and pray to God. In 2018, the Sumrinah prayer was granted by God, the cleaning service's salary increased. The value is equivalent to the minimum wage for the city of Semarang, which is IDR 2,498,587. In addition, since 2019 she has been calmer because her three children, Sucipto, Tri Ning Tyas and Adi Joko can live properly with their respective families. Even though her children are already well established economically, she is reluctant to become a burden to them. There are still many other Sumirnahs who are also fighting their fate during the COVID-19 pandemic. President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi also strengthened mothers and other women in Indonesia to continue to fight against the pandemic that was not over.