Indonesian migrant workers willingly face severe challenges while working abroad, such as the serious threat of physical and sexual abuse, in order to make money for their families. Even so, some people in Indonesia, for whatever reason, still feel it’s perfectly acceptable to insult those who risk everything by leaving their homes in order to create a better future for themselves and their loved ones.
Recently, a Facebook post from a user who claims to be an employee at the Bontang City Education Board, identified by his initials AS, went viral. In the post, AS repeatedly used the word “babu” (a derogatory term to describe a domestic worker in Indonesia) as he insulted Indonesian migrant workers in a disgustingly insensitive manner.
AS’ post translates to:
All you babu
Living below the poverty line that you’re willing to leave your family to work as a babu in another country
What is left inside you but the desire to earn money so that you’re not poor?
Minimal education
Your skillset is only to become a babu
Well then don’t say this and that.
Everybody knows a babu is still a babu
You live off your employers’ pity
You eat your employers’ leftovers
You wear hand-me-downs from your employers
What can you be proud of?
The Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) condemned the viral post.
“Being a migrant worker is the right for every citizen who are seeking a better job and life. Being a domestic worker is acknowledged as a respectable profession,” said BNP2TKI General Secretary Hermono, as quoted by Detik today.
“It’s not anyone’s place to belittle the profession of domestic worker.”
There have been no reports of any legal action against AS for his post.
Earlier this year, there was a similar controversy after House of Representatives (DPR) member Fahri Hamzah also called migrant workers “babu” in a tweet. His insulting message prompted an association of Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong to fly a representative to Indonesia to report Fahri to the DPR’s Ethics Council. Fahri later apologized for his remarks.
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