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Notes of a Former Migrant Worker (based on an interview)

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Mitra Wacana

By: Umiasih (CO Kulon Progo)

This will tell the story of what happened to a person that will be referred to as BN. This event occurred in the 1990’s when BN received an offer to work overseas. At that time, BN had just divorced her husband, and had one child. The person offering the job presented it as a lucrative job offer. At first BN wasn’t sure whether or not to take the job, but she hoped that if she took the job she would be able to guarantee a future for her child, so finally she decided to accept the job offer.

The requirements weren’t complicated, the important thing was that BN had an Identity Card. After her preparations were complete, BN departed by bus to Batam. After arriving at her destination, BN was brought to a shelter in a simple house that was surrounded by a wall, like a prison. After approximately six months in that shelter, BN departed to Malaysia to work as a domestic helper.

While working, BN was forbidden from speaking with her work friends. She also received physical violence, such as being slapped and hit by her boss. BN also never received any payment while working. These conditions made BN increasingly determined to escape from Malaysia and return to Indonesia, even though there were many obstacles and risks. Her first attempt failed, BN was found out by her boss and badly beaten.

BN never gave up. On her second escape attempt, BN met with the Indonesian Navy. She hoped they would help her, but instead they beat her and kicked her with their shoes. BN was captured and returned to her boss.

After this, BN felt resigned to her fate. Then four years later she tried to escape again. Together with a friend, BN tied bed sheets together, and used them to escape through the house window. She successfully arrived in the harbour at 2.am. However, her friend failed because she fell in the persons house. BN met with a fisherman who finally helped her to cross using a barge. BN crossed to the base of Pinang.

Upon arrival in Indonesia, BN decided to help the owner of the store where she took shelter. The owner wa named Sri, she was a person from Bantul in Yogyakarta. While living in Sri’s house, BN helped her sell things in the warung. One time Sri’s son came to visit, sith the help of Sri’s son, BN entrusted him with photos for her family at home, because BN had long been away, BN worried that her family would not recognize her. With Sri’s assistance, BN managed to go home and meet with family.

After 10 years back at home, BN received an invitation from Mitra Wacana WRC to join in a routine meeting at the Women’s Learning Centre (P3A). Because of these regular meetings, BN received information about the prevention of human trafficking. Besides that, the P3A is also a place to learn and share experiences. Before becoming a member of the P3A, BN had never before joined in with an organisation like that. Thanks to the regular meetings, BN realised that she had been a victim of human trafficking. Until now, BN still regularly joins in with P3A meetings. According to BN, if she regularly attends the meetings she believes she will learn many new things eg: about gender equality, reproductive help.

In OPSD, participants receive knowledge about the importance of participating in development. Women are able to participate in development, because women actually know more about their needs. For example, girls know the needs of the child, the things that endanger the child and take care of reproductive health. Unlike men, most of them think about their physical needs without paying attention to the psychic.

While joining in with the OPSD, BN received knowledge about including women in village development. For BN, the OPSD becomes a place for village women to learn about gender, village laws, preventing human trafficking and fulfilling women’s rights.

BN feels that she had many valuable experiences here. She has become more confident when mingling with the community and engaging in community deliberations. As an example, in one instance, BN emphasised the importance of educating people about the prevention of human trafficking. Her hope is so that there are no more victims of human trafficking her village.

During the process of OPSD, BN was not satisfied because not many participants from the village government joined the activity. According to BN, if OPSD are attended by many more “important” people from the village, then it will increase the number of people in society that are vocal about preventing human trafficking.

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Opini

25 Juta Jiwa Jadi Korban Perdagangan manusia

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Pegiat Mitra Wacana

   Wahyu Tanoto

Oleh Wahyu Tanoto

Perdagangan manusia adalah bentuk pelanggaran hak asasi manusia yang maha serius dan bersifat global. Menurut Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa (PBB), perdagangan manusia adalah “perekrutan, pengangkutan, pemindahan, penyembunyian atau penerimaan seseorang dengan cara seperti ancaman atau penggunaan kekerasan atau bentuk lainnya. Pemaksaan, penculikan, penipuan atau penipuan untuk tujuan eksploitasi.” Eksploitasi tersebut dapat berupa kerja paksa, perbudakan, pelacuran, atau bentuk-bentuk eksploitasi seksual lainnya.

Rumit dan Multidimensi

Perdagangan manusia adalah masalah yang terbilang rumit dan multidimensi. Pelakunya boleh jadi berasal dari berbagai latar belakang, termasuk individu, kelompok, atau bahkan organisasi. Korban perdagangan manusia juga berasal dari berbagai latar belakang, termasuk laki-laki, perempuan, dan anak-anak.

Merujuk United Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) dan International Labour Office (ILO), terdapat hampir 25 juta korban; perempuan, laki-laki dan anak-anak di seluruh dunia untuk tujuan eksploitasi seksual dan kerja paksa. Karenanya, perdagangan manusia merupakan pelanggaran berat terhadap martabat manusia dan menargetkan kelompok rentan seperti migran, serta pengungsi pada khususnya. Salah satu tren yang paling memprihatinkan adalah meningkatnya jumlah anak-anak yang menjadi korban, meningkat tiga kali lipat dalam 15 tahun. Kejahatan ini dilaporkan menghasilkan lebih dari $150 miliar per tahun di seluruh dunia. Hal ini semakin dianggap sebagai masalah keamanan global karena memicu korupsi, migrasi tidak teratur, dan terorisme.

Pada 2023, Indonesia masih dihadapkan dengan tantangan besar dalam mengatasi kasus Tindak Pidana Perdagangan manusia (TPPO). Menurut data yang dihimpun oleh Sistem Informasi Online Perlindungan Perempuan dan Anak (SIMFONI PPA), mencatat dari tahun 2020 sampai dengan tahun 2022, terdapat 1.418 kasus dan 1.581 korban TPPO yang dilaporkan. Dari data tersebut  menunjukkan sebanyak 96% korban perdagangan orang adalah perempuan dan anak

Bahkan, yang paling gres sebanyak 1.047 mahasiswa dari 33 universitas di Indonesia diduga menjadi korban eksploitasi kerja dengan modus magang di Jerman (ferienjob) pada Oktober sampai Desember 2023. Diadaptasi dari Tempo.co, perihal kronologi kejadiannya, para mahasiswa mendapat sosialisasi dari CVGEN dan PT. SHB. Mereka dibebankan biaya pendaftaran sebesar Rp 150.000, dan membayar 150 Euro untuk membuat LOA (Letter of Acceptance).

Dampak yang mengerikan

Perdagangan manusia memiliki dampak yang menghancurkan bagi korban. Mereka, para korban perdagangan manusia kerapkali mengalami kekerasan fisik, psikologis, seksual (termasuk di ranah luring). Mereka juga mengalami kerugian ekonomi dan sosial.

Meskipun perdagangan manusia merupakan masalah yang bersifat global, namun, hal ini sering kali terlupakan dan luput dari perhatian. Ada beberapa faktor yang berkontribusi terhadap ketidaktahuan masyarakat tentang perdagangan manusia, termasuk: (1) Perdagangan manusia sering terjadi di belakang layar dan sulit dideteksi; (2) Korban perdagangan manusia kerap takut untuk bersuara dan melapor; (3) Masyarakat sering tidak menyadari bahwa perdagangan manusia sebagai masalah serius yang bisa menimpa siapa saja; (4) Peraturan perundangan-undangan dan kebijakan belum sepenuhnya dipahami oleh semua lapisan masyarakat, dan (5) Bentuk dan upaya pencegahan biasanya  dianggap seremonial.

Upaya Negara

Untuk mengatasi masalah perdagangan manusia, diperlukan upaya dari berbagai pihak, termasuk pemerintah, lembaga internasional, organisasi non-pemerintah, dan masyarakat umum. Upaya-upaya tersebut diantaranya mencakup: 1) Peningkatan kesadaran masyarakat tentang perdagangan manusia, 2) Peningkatan dukungan bagi korban perdagangan manusia.  3) Peningkatan upaya penegakan hukum untuk memerangi perdagangan manusia.

Sebagaimana diketahui, pemerintah Indonesia telah mengambil langkah-langkah untuk menangani masalah perdagangan manusia. Indonesia menetapkan Undang-Undang No. 21 Tahun 2007 tentang Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan manusia. Undang-undang tersebut didukung oleh pembentukan Gugus Tugas Pencegahan dan Penanganan Tindak Pidana Perdagangan manusia melalui ditetapkannya Peraturan Presiden No. 69 Tahun 2008.

Meskipun begitu, masih banyak hal yang perlu dilakukan untuk mengatasi masalah perdagangan manusia di Indonesia. Pemerintah memiliki kewajiban mengoptimalkan pencegahan, pemantauan berkala, mengimplementasikan penegakan hukum, dan berkolaborasi dengan warga masyarakat demi meningkatnya kesadaran tentang kerentanan, bahaya dan dampak perdagangan manusia. Hadirnya organisasi masyarakat sipil yang konsen terhadap isu perdagangan manusia memang relatif belum massif, namun, pemerintah perlu memberikan apresiasi terhadap mereka yang telah berkontribusi-memiliki kepedulian-untuk memerangi perdagangan orang. ***

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