I

ndonesian migrant workers, locally known as TKI, have existed since the poorest of the poor could no longer earn a living in their own villages. Not giving up, they tried urbanization; where those who had the necessary skills could survive to the extent of becoming their own masters.

However, those who are without capital or the required skills simply succumb to begging. And those who have a will of steel collect saleable city trash for their families who are either with them in the city or are left behind in the villages to attend to whatever business they have there, such as plots of land where they plant food crops to sell at local markets or to ready buyers from neighboring towns.

Unemployment and, consequently, hunger simply drives them toward trying their luck in the cities where they can find places to stay as house helps. City people who are more fortunate with their better earnings have more than enough means to accommodate house helps. However, the number of available “helping hands” far outweighs the available “pay plus free board and lodging” house-help jobs.

Economic pressures drive them to think beyond the scope of the crowded city borders, falling at times into the hands of unscrupulous characters who take advantage of these people and force them to work in red-light districts or far away from their original destinations of bright-lit homes as house helps abroad.

Those more fortunate individuals who end up in decent homes are still not entirely without problems. It only takes the good-looking legs of female servants to cause a variety of family problems everywhere in the world.

Moreover, poor education bars them from knowing what is expected of them. More often than not, they simply do the opposite because they have to do the job, yet they don’t know how to go about it and they’re too afraid (or don’t know how) to ask for guidance. Usually, this results in disaster, unless the head of the household is a well-balanced individual who doesn’t hesitate to repeat instructions he or she has patiently already explained.

We can note these and many more, should we need to prepare the quality of Indonesian female workers (TKW) before they are granted their passports.

In this way, we can determine how to intensify their training; prioritizing decency, respect and etiquette. Our authorities have, somehow, established such training, yet many irresponsible private scalpers get hold of inexperienced TKW only to create nothing but misery for them abroad.

It is high time for us to respect our TKI/TKW by giving them more privileges at our airports on their departure to and arrival from foreign countries. If their passports need extending, the passport authorities should promptly renew them right there-and-then, free of charge; including the passport photo and all.

This would not only create a sense of belonging but, more importantly, the TKI/TKW would eventually gain respect abroad. Show them some respect and treat them with care to show they are welcomed individuals; and no antagonism whatsoever, please!

We should make sure that their trips to and from their respective villages are pleasant and safe from the perennial presence of scalpers/extortionists. The current annoying immigration reception should be changed to an important welcome reception, supporting their goal of wanting to earn an honest living abroad.

Moeljono Adikoesoemo
Jakarta