Information Dissemination Needs of Indonesian Migrant Domestic Workers in Malaysia

Abstract

Substantial numbers of Indonesian women are seeking employment as domestic workers in Malaysia in order to escape poverty and unemployment and to be able to support their families back home. Most Indonesian domestic workers in Malaysia face unpleasant working conditions with long working hours and no freedom to move or communicate; some find themselves in a situation of abuse. In many cases, the decision to work abroad is made without being properly informed about what to expect. Furthermore, most of the Indonesian migrant domestic workers do not know about process and procedures and are not aware of their rights and the possibilities of seeking assistance when problems occur. In order to empower the target group, relevant information need to be disseminated. Current strategies do not seem to achieve the desired effect. Many of the affected women come from remote areas, are poor and have a low level of education; therefore, their skills to make use of written or even digital information are limited. Appropriate strategies are suggested to utilise traditional and commonly used information dissemination channels such as cultural performances, group discussions and radio. Educational measures should be combined with aspects of local entertainment culture in order to attract attention and to provoke identification with the issues discussed. Further research is necessary to actually develop an appropriate information dissemination strategy with regard to the target group and to evaluate its benefits by conducting pilot projects.

Information Dissemination Strategies among Migrant Workers: A Conceptual Framework

“…In addition, there will be persecution and mistreatment against them by irresponsible parties. According to previous research by [4], one of the main reasons why Indonesian women are vulnerable for mistreatment and exploitation is a lack of information: a lack of access to information, a lack of availability of reliable information, and a lack of skills to make use of information. Information could prepare the migrant workers for what to expect, enable informed decision making, inform about process and procedures and therefore prevent human trafficking, and create awareness of rights and the possibility to get assistance.…”

“… Educational information need: 40 percent;  Health information needs: 5 percent;  Employment information needs: 20 percent;  How to deal with racism: 25 percent and  Political information needs: 10 percent According to [4], the information and knowledge needs during employment by migrant workers are as follows:  Worker's rights  Possibilities to end the contract before time  That they are not the only person facing such problems  That there are people out there who are willing and able to help  What to do or where to go to find help  How to travel back home  How to bring the wages back home safely Before developing new information dissemination strategies, it is important to consider potential challenges for the usefulness of channels and methods since they might form obstacles for a successful and sustainable implementation of a strategy. In determining what information is needed, people from the host country need to be aware of the cultural background and life experiences of the immigrants in order to ensure that appropriate and relevant information is provided.…”

“…Besides, Information Dissemination Strategies will be the dependent variable as it generates the output of the study. The term migrant worker refers to a person who is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a State of which he or she is not a national [4]. Migrant workers in Malaysia context is an employee of the originating from abroad who come to work in Malaysia for a certain period [3].…”

“…By development here it is meant the development of a person, the unfolding and realization of their creative potentials enabling them to improve their conditions of living through the use of resources available. A previous study by [4] showed that these have caused many problems amongst them, the low level of knowledge and skills of the prospective migrant workers themselves and the fact that the information they are given is generally not accurate, comprehensive or appropriate. The consequence is that the migrant worker becomes either directly or indirectly an object of commercialization and abuse.…”

Protection of Migrant Workers from Upstream to Downstream through “Peduli Buruh Migran” Villages (Desbumi): Study at Kuripan Village, Central Java and Nyerot Village, West Nusa Tenggara

“…Beberapa penelitian antara lain Hangzo dkk (2011); ), Mafruhah (2012, Orange (2012) mengindikasikan bahwa untuk melindungi buruh migran terutama mereka yang bekerja pada sektor informal harus ada kerjasama dan komitmen di semua tingkat mulai dari tingkat nasional, regional dan global dan yang paling utama yaitu di tingkat nasional. Lebih jauh dalam kajian Ketidakberlakuan UU No.39/2004 secara filosofis karena belum mencerminkan citra hukum (Rechtidee) bangsa indonesia sebagai nilai positif yang tertinggi (uberpositivenwerte), yakni pancasila, sila kedua.…”