“I am powerless

My body is trapped behind the bars

My heart, my soul is tormented in pain

Thinking of such a fate,”

That is an excerpt of a letter from Muninggar (45), an Indonesian migrant worker from Domas Village, Pontang District, Serang Regency, Banten to her family. Muninggar is a survivor of the Crime of People Trafficking (TPPO) who worked as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia since 2001. She was accused of burning the house where she worked. The unfortunate incident in 2021 claimed one life and Muninggar was charged with the death penalty.

She had to spend nine months in a Dubai police prison, before being released and returned to Indonesia in September 2022, facilitated by the Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Union. Now Muninggar and her husband live with their families, while their three children have moved out to study and work to support the family’s economy. Even though she has returned home, Muninggar has not fully recovered from her ordeal. 

Her daughter, who is studying at a university in Jakarta with a scholarship, always reminds her to think positively, and helps her to stay strong. Even though her family lives in a simple house without a ceiling, Muninggar does not dwell in her hardship. She tries to always be present for the family.

She is no longer interested in working as a domestic worker through a non-procedural distribution agency, although where she lives, it is an easier way out. Muninggar slowly feels at home again in her own house, accompanied by singing birds behind her house.