Protecting Indonesia’s women migrant workers from the grassroots: a story of Paguyuban Seruni^*

* This article was written based on the data gathered during a research funded by LPPM UNPAR in the year 2015 with the title of ‘Identifikasi Potensi Perempuan di Akar Rumput dalam Upaya Perlindungan Buruh Migran Perempuan Indonesia,’ conducted by Elisabeth Dewi and Sylvia Yazid.

ABSTRACT

This paper was written based on a research at the grassroots level which was aimed to look into: (1) the relative position of women vis-a-vis the process of making policies on the protection of women migrant workers; (2) what efforts women have made; (3) what efforts women can potentially make, based on their current positions; and (4) opportunities and challenges that may arise. In arguing for the importance of women’s empowerment in conducting protection efforts for Indonesian women migrant workers, the research made the activities of three women activists from Paguyuban Seruni in Banyumas, Indonesia the object of analysis. The efforts and roles were identified through in-depth interviews and observations. Through self-development, enriching process and optimal achievement, along with access to education and involvement in the democratization process at the grassroots level, the women activists have made a valuable contribution to the efforts of protecting women migrant workers at the grassroots level. There are limitations and problems that these women have to face, but they all become motivations for them to move forward and actually do something through a process where self and community achievement are interrelated. At this stage of the research, this paper is aimed to showcase the lessons learned and best practices identified from the grassroots level, in the search for efforts worth making, developing and duplicating, with the aim of protecting women migrant workers working in the informal sector.

KEYWORDS:

• Women migrant workers
• protection
• grassroots
• empowerment
• Indonesia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Elisabeth Dewi is lecturer in International Relations Department, Parahyangan Catholic University. In 1996, she earned a Bachelor’s degree from Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, Indonesia. In 2003, she earned an MA from UMass Lowell, USA. In 2010, she obtained her Ph.D. in Women’s Studies from Victoria University, Melbourne. She is Head of Parahyangan Centre for International Studies and Editor of International Relations Academic Journal of Parahyangan Centre for International Studies. In addition, she is Coordinator for Women’s Concern Network in Bandung and a Secretary Executive for Gender and Women’s Empowerment Sub Commission for Bandung Diocese. She has served as Gender Consultant for various international projects in Indonesia.

Sylvia Yazid is a permanent lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Parahyangan Catholic University. Ms. Yazid obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Parahyangan Catholic University, Bandung, Indonesia. She obtained her Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from the Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University, Australia. She obtained her Ph.D. from the School of Political and Social Inquiry, Faculty of Arts, Monash University. Besides teaching and conducting research and community service, she is presently serving as Head of the Department of International Relations.

Notes

* This article was written based on the data gathered during a research funded by LPPM UNPAR in the year 2015 with the title of ‘Identifikasi Potensi Perempuan di Akar Rumput dalam Upaya Perlindungan Buruh Migran Perempuan Indonesia,’ conducted by Elisabeth Dewi and Sylvia Yazid.

1. A study about issues usually faced by Indonesian women migrant workers in their migration steps, before departure, during their work, and after their work abroad can be found in Yazid (2013).

2. Several terms are used to describe migrant workers who have problems with their migration. The common terms which are often used by academics and activists are undocumented or irregular migrants. The term ‘illegal migrant workers’ is usually used by the government, usually from the destination country. The differences between these terms are related to the different point of views on what caused migration problems and what the impacts toward the status of the migrants are. Those who oppose the use of ‘illegal migrant’ as a term argue that the workers are not illegal as humans. What happens is at one point of their migration process; they do not have the required documents. However this condition often occurs not because of the migrant workers’ fault. There is a possibility that a woman migrant worker who is working as a domestic worker has to run away from her employer who frequently tortures her. However, because the employer keeps her passport, she becomes undocumented.

3. In this paper, the association will be referred as Paguyuban Seruni or Seruni.

4. Interview with Narsidah, in Banyumas, 30 June 2015

5. Paket C is a special short programme for those who did not actually attend high school to obtain a certificate comparable to regular high school certificate.

6. A commission that works on the sector of citizens’ welfare.

7. The highest assembly in the House of Representative of Republic of Indonesia, which is led by the head of House of Representative.

8. Interview with Lili Purwani in Banyumas, 30 June 2015

9. Children who are temporarily left behind to stay with their fathers or relatives by their mothers who work abroad.

10. Interview with Sri Setyawati in Banyumas, 1 July 2015