'It's better to work hard than farm the land'<\/p>\n
Every worker here knows how hard it is to make a life in the
\ncity. Yet, many say that they will not quit their jobs because
\nthey don't have any other option. The Jakarta Post talked to
\nseveral people who were about to leave the city to celebrate Idul
\nFitri in their hometowns.<\/p>\n
Riyadi, 25, a laborer who works for a furniture factory in
\nKapuk, North Jakarta. He has been living in the city for more
\nthan a year. He was heading to Palembang, South Sumatra to see
\nhis parents:<\/p>\n
I am going home to be with my family. I don't want to pretend
\nI am a successful person in Jakarta. I am taking some money home
\nbut soon I will run out.<\/p>\n
I don't want to recommend that anyone comes back with me to
\nJakarta. Working here is hard and I cannot guarantee that they
\nwould soon get a job. I just don't want them to experience the
\nhardship of looking for a job like my own experience last year.<\/p>\n
I want to go back to work here after the holiday. I don't have
\nmuch choice. That's why I have to keep my job despite the fact
\nthat I get less than the regional minimum wage standard. My
\nfactory pays me Rp 16,700 a day.<\/p>\n
Luckily my friends sometimes offer extra jobs. They stole
\nelectronic components from the factory where they work then I
\nhelped them sell the items lower than the market prices. Frankly,
\nit helps me survive.<\/p>\n
I want to go back to Jakarta, after all. I think it's better
\nrather than staying in my hometown and being a farmer. I don't
\nthink I could do that job well. Besides, I feel happier here as I
\nhave many friends with whom I can share my hard life.<\/p>\n
Gatot, 22, a company worker in Pondok Gede, Bekasi, for two
\nyears. He was leaving for Tawangmangu, Central Java where his
\nfamily lives:<\/p>\n
I feel happy to go home to see my family. I think the
\ncelebration is a big occasion where I can get together with all
\nmy family and relatives and friends.<\/p>\n
I don't mind if my fellow villagers consider me a successful
\nmigrant. This is the typical villagers' point of view of their
\nneighbors who return home after years of working in such a big
\ncity.<\/p>\n
They don't know that working in the city is hard. Even my
\nsalary is far lower than the regional minimum wage standard. I
\nonly get more or less Rp 400,000 per month. I wonder why we only
\ndeserve that much.<\/p>\n
Anyway, I don't have any plan to quit my job here as looking
\nfor a better job is difficult. So I have to keep my job and try
\nmy best so as not to lose it. I must manage my income properly to
\nget by.<\/p>\n
Roni, 27, a construction worker for more than 10 years. He
\nresides in Ciledug, Tangerang, with his friends while his wife
\nand son live in their hometown in Pemalang, Central Java:<\/p>\n
Living in the city is very tough but I have to enjoy it.<\/p>\n
I work seven days a week and my weekly income is almost Rp
\n300,000 because my boss pays me Rp 40,000 per day.<\/p>\n
Perhaps in my hometown I could bargain to have that much, but
\nthe jobs are rare. Besides, I enjoy being here as there are many
\nentertaining places to go.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, I feel proud when I go home as everyone in my
\nneighborhood will respect me as the 'lucky' person with a lot of
\nmoney. But I cannot deny the fact that I'm just a construction
\nworker who has to bear the daily heat and hard work.<\/p>\n
I'm happy to go home because I bring a lot of money for my
\nfamily and some new clothes for them.<\/p>\n
--Leo Wahyudi S<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/its-better-to-work-hard-than-farm-the-land-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }