FROM WASTE INTO WAGE: SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION OF INFORMAL SECTOR WORKERS IN RECYCLING WASTE (A Case Study in Mojosongo, Jebres Sub District Surakarta)

Abstract

This research is about a social transformation of informal sector workers in Mojosongo, Surakarta. The term of informal sector workers means scavengers, pelapak and bandar. The objectives of this research are to describe commodification of waste, the cause of why the information sector workers commodificate it, social relation, and interdependation between the workers and to describe social figuration and habitus formed during the working process. The theory of social transformation “figuration” from Norbert Elias was used in  this research.

The qualitative method with study case approach was used in this research. The informants of this research are informal sector workers (scavengers, pelapak and bandar), government (RT, Kelurahan, and DKP/Sanitary Agency) and Mojosongo society in general who understand the life of informal sector workers in recycling waste. The sampling technique of this research was purposive sampling. The location of this research was in Mojosongo, Jebres sub district, Surakarta. The data were collected by interview, observation and documentation. The data analysis was done by Miles & Huberman Interactive model which started from collecting data, reducing data, providing data and conclusion. The validity of data was done by source triangulation.

The result of this research showed that the process of waste commodification into wage by the informal sector workers was formed based on economic concern. Social relations and dependence relationalships (interdependence) between the workers are interwoven in a rational or non rational without them even knowing. Support from the government and the community are very influential to their efforts. In the process of work formed habitus and figuration that is supported by the existence of social relations and social process between workers so that it is able to create strategies in order to improve the work process. So the process of recycling bins give an indication of the social transformation in the economic sphere in the form of profits against the opening of new jobs for the local community as well as urban communities.

Keyword : Commodification, Informal Sector Workers, Recycling waste, Transformation.