VARIATION OF CURRENT RECIPROCITY BETWEEN LAND OWNERS AND FARM WORKERS BASED ON LABOR WAGES AND WORKING HOURS

Abstract

Sustainable rural development has affected some factors. One of them is the reciprocity relationships. The study aims to describe the variety of current reciprocity between land owner’s farmers and landless laborers based on laborer's wages and time allocation for work accomplished The research location was determined intentionally in the rural areas of Purbalingga Regency and Banyumas Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. This study used a qualitative method with phenomenological research design. The results showed that there are variations in the form of reciprocity based on work wages and the outpouring of time allocation and wage levels. High and intensive time spent in work tends to get rewards in the form of high wages, and vice versa, but behind that, there is an interesting social dimension, namely the discovery of other social rewards that are not only quantitative but in the form of other forms of social services, such as: adding extra food, consumption, smoking facility and any kind of hospitality. Based on the conclusions obtained, it can be recommended to farmer groups and policymakers at the regional level, that it is necessary to increase the level of wages that are adequate under the time spent, both for farmers with asymmetrical relationships to be maintained, and also to reduce social inequality for farmworkers in asymmetrical relationships. It is necessary to have internal farmer group dynamics and be supported by local government policies that encourage more standard labor wage regulations and can increase the purchasing power of farming communities, especially farmworkers to a better level.