THE waitress went back and forth busily, serving restaurant visitors. In her black uniform, Cicih—not her real name—kept smiling. On that Wednesday afternoon, the Chinese food eatery was teeming with guests. Most of the seats were occupied, particularly in the area extending out on Jalan Puteri 7, Bandar Puteri Puchong, Selangor.

Cicih, 23, has been working at the restaurant for three years. The woman from Kendal, Central Java, works in two