A Lecturer from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Udayana University Earned a Doctorate For His Study of the Exploitation of Balinese Workers in the Cruise Ship Industry

• Posted by: Admin
• Kamis, 7 Agustus 2025
• Has been read 38 time(s)

The Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University, held a Dissertation Defense at in the Ir. Soekarno Room, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University, on Thursday, August 7, 2025. Promovenda named Putu Titah Kawitri Resen, SIP., MA presented his dissertation entitled "Exploitation Practices Against Balinese Workers in the Cruise Ship Industry". She successfully defended her dissertation and graduated with a GPA of 3.85, the predicate "With Honors". Promovenda is the 262nd (two hundred and sixty-two) graduate in the Faculty of Humanities and the 297th (two hundred and five and ninety-seven) in the Doctoral Program in Cultural Studies, Faculty of Humanities, Udayana University.

This dissertation defense was led by the chairperson of the session, Prof. Dr. Ni Luh Sutjiati Beratha, MA, who is also a member of the examination team. The promoter for this defense was Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Weda Kusuma, M.S., accompanied by Co-promoter I, Prof. Dr. I Gusti Putu Bagus Suka Arjawa, M.Si., and Co-promoter II, Dr. I Nengah Punia, M.Si. Meanwhile, the examination team for the defense was Dr. Ni Nyoman Dewi Pascarani, S.S., M.Si., Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Darma Putra, M.Litt., Prof. Dr. I Gede Mudana, M.Si., Dr. Drs. I Ketut Santra, M.Si, and Dr. Ida Ayu Laksmita Sari, S.Hum., M.Hum.

Promovenda's research was motivated by the high interest of Balinese people in working on cruise ships. This is due to several factors. One is that the job offers global experience and a high level of professionalism. Furthermore, substantial salaries and the potential for prosperity are also advantages of working in the cruise ship industry. However, Promovenda explains that Balinese cruise ship workers often experience harsh working conditions, long hours, and unequal power relations. This reality is often hidden behind hegemonic narratives such as "high salaries," "social mobility," and "global professionalism," which shape hegemonic knowledge within society.

This research uses a Cultural Studies approach and is based on critical theories such as Gramsci's theory of hegemony, Foucault's theory of power-knowledge relations, and Bourdieu's theory of social practice. The results show that exploitation of workers occurs not only economically and physically, but also through ideological and cultural processes that shape the voluntary compliance (docile bodies) of workers. In this research, Promovenda maps these exploitative practices as influenced by the internalization of socio-economic habitus, work ethic, the myth of meritocracy, and traditional bonds such as solidarity and debt of gratitude. Balinese cultural habitus is also a factor that encourages the reproduction of submission amidst an exploitative work system.

This dissertation concludes that the exploitation of Balinese workers in the cruise ship industry occurs due to the internalization of dominant knowledge that interprets shipboard work as a path to success, as well as due to the social and cultural habitus shaped by work ethic, solidarity, ngayah culture, and traditional values. This exploitation gives rise to impacts such as alienation, the emergence of a petty bourgeoisie, structural and symbolic violence, and the reproduction of the working class. Nevertheless, some workers are beginning to develop critical awareness through three main levels: ideological, social, political, and transformative, as a step towards emancipation and changing working conditions.

With this achievement, the main message conveyed by the promovenda in its closing section was: “Leave as a migrant worker, come home as a boss.”She also emphasized the importance of returning to cultural roots and human values with an inspiring quote: “Money leads you go, love leads you back home.” In the promoter’s speech, Prof. Dr. I Nyoman Weda Kusuma, M.S., expressed his appreciation for the promovenda and congratulated the promovenda for its excellent performance and officially holding a Doctorate in Cultural Studies. He hoped that the promovenda could continue to contribute to critical studies on labor issues and cultural migration in Indonesia.