Presentation given at Gendered dimensions of migration: Material and social outcomes of South-South migration. 30 June - 2 July 2015 at the Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore http://migratingoutofpoverty.dfid.gov.uk/research/womenandchildren/gendered_dimensions

1. Structural Exploitation of Indonesian
Female Migrant Worker:
A home country’s perspective
Pamungkas A. Dewanto
Bina 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 Singapore
30 June – 2 July, 2015

2. 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 Arabia
Circular Migrants in Way Abung, Lampung Province
Lower structure
of work: Vacant
Migrant Labor

3. 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?

4. 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

5. 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

6. The Number of Emigrating Labors
The Formal
The
Informal
VS.
Source: BNP2TKI (2013)

7. Gendered Distribution of Work: Feminization
Female:
Informal
Male:
Formal
VS.
Source: BNP2TKI (2013)

8. Recruitment Structure: the contest
Contests:
Lindquist
(2010; 2012)
Technical Training
forPetugas Lapangan
(Bimtek PRCTKI)
Government
Private Recruiter
Association
Recruiting
Agency
Middlemen /
Petugas Lapangan
Migrant/
Potential Recruits
Biao (2008);
Rudnyckj (2004)
1980s 2000s 2011

9. 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
Coordinati
ve
Passport
Issuance
Health Record
Documenting
Manpower
Authority
MOFA’s
Authority
9

10. Placement Authorities (2006 ~ )
President
Manpower
Ministry MoFA
BNP2TKI
Provincial Office
Regency/City
Office
Labor Attaché
Diplomatic
Representative
BP3TKI/
P4TKI
MoJ
Immigration
MoH
Health Center
Directorate
General of
Placement
Legal
Superiority
Communication
Line
Coordinati
ve
Passport
Issuance
Area of
Research
Health Record
Documenting
BNP2TKI’s
Area
Manpower
Authority
MOFA’s
Authority
Prov. Gov’t
Authority
10

11. BNP2TKI vs. Manpower Ministry

12. 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)