Structural Exploitation of Indonesian Female Migrant Worker: A home country’s perspective

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)