KESENJANGAN UPAH BURUH TANI PEREMPUAN PADA SEKTOR PERTANIAN TANAMAN RIMPANG DI KOTA BATU

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the mechanism of the occurrence of gender-based wage gap in rhizome farm workers in Batu City as well as criticize how "cigarette wages" legitimize economic discrimination against women workers. The great contribution of women farm workers to the economic sector has not been directly proportional to the welfare they get. Until now, the agricultural sector is still overshadowed by problems that are difficult to eliminate in the form of gender wage gaps. This research uses a qualitative approach that aims to explore in depth and understand lived experiences experienced directly with participatory observation techniques, in-depth interviews, and documentation. The research was carried out at one of the rhizome plant collectors in Batu City, East Java. The informants in this study were determined using purposive sampling techniques, with inclusion criteria: female farm workers who work in the post-harvest cleaning sector of rhizome crops in Batu City, male farm workers with the same line of work as comparative informants, wholesalers (buyers of land owners' crops) who have authority in determining informal wage policies. The results of the study show that there is a wage gap between female and male farm workers in the form of facilities for providing "cigarette wages" or compensation for physical cigarettes which are exclusively allocated to male workers. In practice, business owners provide daily food, drink, and cigarette rations. However, for female workers who are culturally non-smoking, there is no cash compensation or other goods as a substitute for the cigarette facility. Collectors unilaterally categorize men's work as legitimate "menial work" to get energy subsidies (in the form of cigarettes), while women's work is reduced to "allowance work" or simply to fill domestic leisure.