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Abuse of The Indonesian Migrant Worker

Indonesian Migrant Worker

I often heard the tragic story of the Indonesian female migrant worker who worked overseas. Not only Indonesia, there are also many migrant worker from the other developing country. In Indonesia, female manpower that was sent to overseas was known as TKW (abbreviation of Tenaga Kerja Wanita). However the term of TKW was often connoted with the servant or maid or the blue-collar worker.

Apparently they were in the weak position, perhaps because of a woman, many tragic and sad incidents that were experienced by them, that is:

  • Salary was reduced and even not be paid by their employer.
  • Illegal levy by the person who was not responsible or tricked by the illegal TKW agency.
  • Receive the salary that below the standard payment in the country where they worked.
  • Sexual insulting even get raped until pregnant.
  • Tortured, even there are those that became paralyzed or dead, etc.

Everyone certainly wishing a better job. Then why they're willing to become TKW or the blue-collar worker? Some factors that became the cause were:

  • Low education.
  • Did not have special skills.
  • Narrow employment opportunities for them.
  • The burden of the family's cost.
  • Interested to the lure of higher salary that was offered.

Beside their tragic story, there is also many success stories and praise for them, that is:

  • They are known as the "hero" of foreign exchange, because of the number of funds that was sent by them to Indonesia has achieved 14 digits for a year.
  • Many of them could buy a house or car, improve their family's welfare and makes the neighbors jealous. It's more to the matter of social status in their village.
  • There were who get the good job in comfortable place because their kind-hearted boss provide facilities, like a condominium with swimming pool and fitness center, good food, health care, high salary, etc.
  • Every month they could send money to family, for the cost of the child's school, buy new clothes, ate good foods, etc.

The effect for the family whose mother became a TKW overseas was :

  1. Their children quite few to get mother's affection.
  2. The phenomenon of their husband tend to do affair because of being left by their wife for long time.

My view towards the TKW problem was as follows:

  1. We must improve the quality of education so that they become skilled worker and got the more better job.
  2. Improve the system and mechanism of sending workers abroad.
  3. Illegal TKW agency must be closed and the owner must be caught and thrown to the court.
  4. They're not a robot, they're human who also have dignity.
  5. They (TKW) do the fighting for their family's life, for the future of their children. So... I says they are (TKW) much valuable than scholar people who just unemployed, lazy and do nothing.
Related post : Night Worker Ladies between Pity and Cost of Living
Other source : BBC Indonesia / Migrant Care / Wikipedia.

Comments

  1. Anonymous27/9/08

    Dear Ely,

    Thank you for making the plight of the TKW known to Americans and others.

    In the USA, many people are opposed to immigration and need to understand the terrible conditions that migrant workers come from. And there are many people who will take advantage of them.

    Unfortunately, many husbands (and wives) are unfaithful when their spouse is away. But what is really tragic is that women have to leave their children behind to provide finances for them. I had no idea that MARRIED women with children were part of this group.

    This is sad and needs to be fixed! Thank you for sharing this important information.

    Sincerely,
    Brennan

    ReplyDelete
  2. Semoga ini menjadi pelajaran bagi kita manusia. Artikel yang bagus.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, the plight of these people is staggering. Thanks for sharing this. I think sometime American get so wrapped up in their own "issues" that they turn a blind eye to other peoples plights.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anonymous28/9/08

    Many women go for this kind of employment out of economic compulsion and the Indonesian woman is no different. The Indonesian Embassies in the countries to which these women go to, must take the responsibility to register them and see that they are not ill-treated. This is possible with proper systems being put in place at the time of issuing passports.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Brennan Kingsland,
    I hoped the American people could be friendlier to the immigrants, because they also struggled for their life and their family's life. I hoped the American people could be friendlier to the immigrants, because they also struggled for their life and their family's life. And you are true, the real tragic is that women have to leave their children behind. Hmmm.... i can't say any more about that. Thank you for your attention.
    ------------------------

    Dear Blogendeng,
    Yes, hope this will be our lesson. You're same with me, also from Indonesia and I believe that you also know about these tragic story. Please HELP ME to tell this abuse to the world. Thank you for your attention.
    ------------------------

    Dear Regina,
    Thank you for your comment and attention.
    ------------------------

    Dear Rummuser,
    Very good thoughts from you. I wish they read your comment here.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous29/9/08

    I can empathize with this because I know a lot of my people in the Philippines also suffer the same way--because of poverty.
    The American government have a mixed feeling on this issue because of their traumatic experience with the terrorists who were illegal "immigrants".

    ReplyDelete
  7. Its true that due to economic status some married women decided to work abroad just to give their children a better future but a lot of times, it jeopardizes either the mom's lives or the lives of the children who are left unattended by moms!

    Please visit my blog if you have time.. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. hello love ely, another relevant post of yours.. Sometimes even if you want to be with your kids, you have to leave them just for the sake of giving them something good that you can't give, if you will stay in your country..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous29/9/08

    Kapan Yah nasib TKI?W kita menjadi lebih baik? Atau tepatnmya kapan ya Tenaker yang kita kirim ke LN adalah para tenaga ahli...minimal terdidik...bukan kayak sekarang...hiks..

    ReplyDelete
  10. Dear Bingkee,
    Your first sentence reinforced the proof about abuse of the migrant worker (that is also happened to migrant worker from Philippines), and of course I understand of their feelings. Thank you for sharing this important information.

    ---------------------

    Dear Joops,
    Yes, you are true... it's jeopardizes. I think they have no other choice. The IMPORTANT matter is how about the abuse.
    Thank you for commenting here, and sure I will visit your blog.

    ---------------------

    Dear Ckulit,
    Yes, sometimes we only have a few choices and must do a fight for a better future. The IMPORTANT matter is how about the abuse.
    Thank you for your comment.

    ---------------------

    Dear Gus,
    Hi.. you also from Indonesia, and an interesting question from you that is... "When the destiny of TKW will be better?"

    A question that (even from me) is hard to answer it. BUT... as a blogger from Indonesia, please HELP ME to tell this abuse to the world. Thank you for your attention.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous30/9/08

    I hope humanity grows out of the need to exploit people like this soon.

    Thanks for this post, L.E.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Dear Robin,
    I hope so, but until when we waiting it?
    Thank you for your attention.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous2/10/08

    This quite sensitive issue, it's dilemma between their economy and lived here in Indonesia, i think that's what force them to work as migrant worker (the main reason).

    It should be goverment duty to protect their citizen, not just inside the country but also outside. No matter mistaken that migrant worker have been done. This migrant worker brings a lot devisa in this country and it's should be goverment duty to give a little bit care and attention if they had some trouble outside the country.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Dear Blogger Addicter,
    Yes, I think so, I hope they will read your comment here. Please HELP ME voicing this abuse to the world. Thank you for your attention.

    ReplyDelete
  15. yes Sir, TKI really need special care and attention....
    hope there's a new alternative to overcome this trouble...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Niar,
    You... as an Indonesian woman, I hope you have more cares than me against this abuse. Please help me to voice it by posting this issue on your blog

    ReplyDelete
  17. interesting article tikno,..its common sense, take an example: when i work in brunei, there were many of out women worker stay in embassy camp.. with various reasons,,,the most common reasons are, they salary was not being paid, and sexual issue. i was wondering there was no action necessary taken by Indonesian embassy down there. they look so relax and it seemed nothing happened. it too far behind if its compare to other country who seriously taking care their people oversea, especially worker, like Philippine..

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear Dede,
    Thank you for sharing your experience towards these issue. Your comment reinforced the proof about the abuse of the migrant worker.

    ReplyDelete

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