structural exploitation of indonesian female migrant worker: a home country’s perspective
TRANSCRIPT
Structural Exploitation of Indonesian Female Migrant Worker:
A home country’s perspective
Pamungkas A. DewantoBina Nusantara University, Jakarta
Presented in a conference “Gendered Dimensions of Migration: Material and social outcomes of
South-South migration”Asia Research Institute,
National University of Singapore30 June – 2 July, 2015
How does the transnational migration take shape?
• Migration in the Indonesian society (circular)– Transmigrasi– Merantau– Nglaju
• Transnational migration:– The impact of oil-boom– Upwards social mobility in
Saudi ArabiaCircular Migrants in Way Abung, Lampung Province
Lower structure of work: Vacant Migrant Labor
What to investigate?
• Intensifying narrative of protection– Abuse; Death Penalty; Deportation; Illegal Migrant
• Protection > loose standards• Inquiries:
– How Indonesian authority manufactures ‘protection’ to Indonesian female migrant workers abroad?
– How the ‘protection service’ of the Indonesian system of migrant labor recruitment is prone to an exploitation?
Manufacturing “Protection” (1/2)
• The making of Indonesian migrant– Localization of norms:
• The role beyond Keluarga Berencana (KB) / Family Planning Program
– Global Market Forces:• Awareness to‘Facilitation’ by
producing migrant as national agent:
– Migrant as a nation’s representative
– A ‘good migrant’ is derived from the performance > Alwi Shihab
– Self-sufficed protection > market system
Dr. Alwi Shihab, Deputy Chief of Presidential Task Force on Death Sentenced TKI
Manufacturing “Protection” (2/2)
• The production of national image through migrant :– Development Agent:
• Social Forces– ‘Pahlawan Devisa’ or Remittance
Hero
• Legal Forces:– Manpower Minister
Decision/Decree KEP.28/Men/1985:
– The dichotomy between Formal and Informal
• Dichotomy > Gendered Work
• Results: Protection as a service
Admiral Soedomo, Manpower Minister, The
New Order Administration 1980s
The Number of Emigrating Labors
The Formal
The Informal
VS.
Source: BNP2TKI (2013)
Gendered Distribution of Work: Feminization
Female:Informal
Male:Formal
VS.
Source: BNP2TKI (2013)
Recruitment Structure: the contest
Contests:Lindquist
(2010; 2012)
Technical Trainingfor Petugas Lapangan
(Bimtek PRCTKI)
Government
Private Recruiter Association
Recruiting Agency
Middlemen /Petugas Lapangan
Migrant/Potential Recruits
Biao (2008); Rudnyckj (2004)
1980s 2000s 2011
Placement Authorities ( ~ 2006)
President
Manpower Ministry MoFA
Provincial Office
Regency/City Office
Labor Attaché
Diplomatic Representative
MoJ
Immigration
MoH
Health Center
Directorate General of Placement
Communication Line
Coordinative
Passport Issuance
Health Record Documenting
Manpower Authority
MOFA’s Authority
9
Placement Authorities (2006 ~ )
President
Manpower Ministry MoFABNP2TKI
Provincial Office
Regency/City Office
Labor Attaché
Diplomatic Representative
BP3TKI/P4TKI
MoJ
Immigration
MoH
Health Center
Directorate General of Placement
Legal Superiority
Communication Line
Coordinative
Passport Issuance
Area of Research
Health Record Documenting
BNP2TKI’s Area
Manpower Authority
MOFA’s Authority
Prov. Gov’t Authority
10
BNP2TKI vs. Manpower Ministry
Conclusion
• Protection is largely embedded in the manufactured regulation and a production of national agent (the labor)
• Protection as ‘service’ is ostensibly held in a sophisticated set of regulations, through which:– The leverage that defines one’s structural position
becomes adjustable– The contests is enabled – Elites’ interests can be optimally served (The PRCTKI)