Resiliensi Mantan Pekerja Tetap Pasca Penutupan Tambang Batubara di Embalut

Kiki Sabrina, Dr. Silverius Djuni Prihatin, M.Si

2025 | Tesis | S2 PEMBANGUNAN SOSIAL DAN KESEJAHTERAAN

Penutupan tambang batubara di Desa Embalut, Kalimantan Timur, pada tahun 2022 menyebabkan dampak signifikan terhadap mantan pekerja tetap, termasuk hilangnya pendapatan utama dan ketidakstabilan ekonomi, sosial, serta psikologis. Keadaan seperti ini, menunjukkan kerentanan terhadap para pekerjanya. Kerentanan ini mendorong para pekerja untuk membangun resiliensi yaitu kemampuan untuk bangkit dari kesulitan. Pertanyaan utama penelitian ini adalah bagaimana resiliensi mantan pekerja tetap pasca penutupan tambang batubara di Desa Embalut. 

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk menganalisis lebih dalam dan detail resliensi mantan pekerja tetap pasca penutupan tambang batubara di Desa Embalut. Menganalisis fenomena tersebut, peneliti menggunakan teori resiliensi Grotberg bahwa setiap individu memiliki kemampuan menjadi individu resilien, sehingga mereka mampu melewati keadaan-keadaan sulit dan menantang dalam kehidupannya. Resiliensi  dapat membuat mereka dalam keadaan yang baik serta memiliki solusi saat mengalami masa sulit tersebut. Penelitian ini menggunakan informan yaitu mantan pekerja tetap Pasca pentupan tambang Desa Embalut. 

Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan pendekatan studi kasus yang menggunakan teknik penentuan informan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dan pengumpulan data berupa wawancara mendalam, observasi dan dokumentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar informan (8 dari 12) mampu beradaptasi dengan mencari pekerjaan baru, memulai usaha kecil, dan menerapkan gaya hidup hemat. Secara sosial, sebagian besar mantan pekerja berhasil ikut kembali ke masyarakat melalui partisipasi dalam kelompok seperti asosiasi petani dan organisasi pemuda yang juga memberikan peluang ekonomi. Secara psikologis,  informan berhasil mengelola stres dan kecemasan melalui kegiatan positif. 

Penelitian ini menekankan bahwa resiliensi bukan hanya tentang bertahan hidup tetapi juga kemampuan untuk pulih dan tumbuh di tengah kondisi yang berubah. Secara keseluruhan, keberhasilan mantan pekerja tambang dalam membangun resiliensi sangat bergantung pada kombinasi ketiga aspek tersebut. Proses resiliensi yang dialami mereka merupakan  transformasi dari gaya hidup yang bergantung pada sektor tambang, mampu mengubah menjadi daya hidup yang menjadikan mereka mandiri, menegaskan pentingnya  eksternal support (dukungan luar) baik dari keluarga, teman maupun lingkup pemerintah setempat, inner streng (dukungan batin) harus memiliki rasa optimis, mau mencoba, ketangguhan serta interpersonal dan problem -solving-skills untuk tetap  kreatif, mau belajar hal baru adaptasi dan mencari solusi dalam menghadapi masalah.

The closure of the coal mine in Embalut Village, East Kalimantan, in 2022 has had significant impacts on former permanent workers, including loss of primary income and economic, social and psychological instability. These circumstances demonstrate the vulnerability of the workers. This vulnerability encourages workers to build resilience, which is the ability to bounce back from adversity. The main question of this research is how the resilience of former permanent workers after the closure of the coal mine in Embalut Village.

The purpose of this study is to analyze in more depth and detail the resilience of former permanent workers after the closure of the coal mine in Embalut Village. Analyzing this phenomenon, researchers used Grotberg's resilience theory that every individual has the ability to become a resilient individual, so that they are able to get through difficult and challenging circumstances in their lives. Resilience can keep them in a good state and have solutions when experiencing these difficult times. This research uses informants, namely former permanent workers in the post-mining stage of Embalut Village.

This research uses a qualitative method with a case study approach that uses a technique of determining informants using purposive sampling techniques and data collection in the form of in-depth interviews, observation and documentation.The results showed that most informants (8 out of 12) were able to adapt by finding new jobs, starting small businesses and adopting a frugal lifestyle. Socially, most ex-workers managed to reintegrate into society through participation in groups such as farmers' associations and youth organizations that also provide economic opportunities. Psychologically, informants managed to manage stress and anxiety through positive activities.

This research emphasizes that resilience is not only about survival but also the ability to recover and grow amid changing conditions. Overall, the success of former mine workers in building resilience is highly dependent on the combination of these three aspects. The resilience process experienced by them is a transformation from a lifestyle that depends on the mining sector, being able to change into a life force that makes them independent, emphasizing the importance of external support from family, friends and the local government, inner support must have a sense of optimism, willingness to try, resilience as well as interpersonal and problem-solving skills to remain creative, willing to learn new things adaptation and find solutions in dealing with problems.

This research emphasizes that resilience is not only about survival but also the ability to recover and grow amid changing conditions. Overall, the success of former mine workers in building resilience is highly dependent on the combination of these three aspects. The resilience process experienced by them is a transformation from a lifestyle that depends on the mining sector, being able to change into a life force that makes them independent, emphasizing the importance of external support from family, friends and the local government, inner support must have a sense of optimism, willingness to try, resilience as well as interpersonal and problem-solving skills to remain creative, willing to learn new things adaptation and find solutions in dealing with problems.

Kata Kunci : Resiliensi Ekonomi, Resiliensi Sosial, Resiliensi Psikologis, Mantan Pekerja Tambang, Pasca Tambang Batubara