MAMPU Partner’s Staffs Selected as Inspiring Indonesian Migrant Workers of Tempo 2017

The Ministry of Manpower of Indonesia (Kemnaker) in cooperation with Tempo Media Group selected eight Inspiring Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) which considered as the source of inspiration to the society.  The conferment was held in Milenia Hotel, Jakarta on 15 May 2017. The selection was held in order to celebrate the International Labor Day which falls on 1 May.

Those eight TKI have been selected from around 5,000 people and meet the most inspiring criteria. Two of them are Siti Mariam Ghozali, a former migrant worker from Wonosobo (Central Java) and Siti Badriyah, a former migrant worker from Grobogan (Central Java) who is currently working as advocacy staff in Migrant CARE.

Siti Mariam Ghozali, also known as Maria Bo Ik, has worked in Hong Kong and Taiwan. As a migrant worker, Maria actively attended English and Mandarin courses, as well as writing short stories and novels. Her various works have been published. In fact, in her village in Wonosobo, Maria set up “Istana Rumbia”, a library that is accessible to everyone for free. In addition, Maria is also an entrepreneur by making instant tiwul  which sold online.

While Siti Badriyah, she worked as a migrant worker in Malaysia in 2002. She had a bad experience at work: her passport was detained by the agent, her salary was not paid, and she had to return to Indonesia by cargo ship. From this experience, she is active in advocating migrant workers through the Consortium for the Defense of Migrant Workers (Kopbumi) and Migrant CARE, so that other migrant workers will not experience the same thing as she does.

Migrant workers are connoted with various problems. Therefore, it is hoped that with the selection of inspiring Indonesian Migrant workers can inspire other migrant workers to persevere and work hard, thus giving positive change for themselves and their environment.