YOGYAKARTA - Atoni Pah Meto community in South Central Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, has work ethics that are imbued by collectivity as the basic capital to survive amid difficult, dry and barren natural conditions. To foster such work ethics, the Atoni community has three concepts of work, namely physical and mental work (ma aof mepu smanaf), work in shift (mepu tanonob), working together (mepu make), and government work (mepu plenat).
Eliasar Timotius Chandra, lecturer of Faculty of Law from University of Artha Wacana, in Kupang, said the work concept of Atoni community is manifested in everyday life. They always work together with family members and the results are to be enjoyed together for one growing season. "Their philosophy is 'nekaf Mese, ansaof Mese', which means the same heart the same mind at work, enjoying the work together," Eliasar said in his open doctoral examination of sociology at Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UGM, Saturday (7/1).
In his dissertation research entitled Work Ethics of Atoni Pah Meto Community: Studies of the Life Dynamics of Atoni Community in South Central Timor, Eliasar said that most of Atoni people still think pragmatically. Nevertheless, Atoni community has a concept of achievement-oriented work ethics which is realized in everyday life. In fact, the concept of respect for time is proven in working from morning to night. They work diligently and vigorously and manage their time well though their activities are not scheduled. "Atoni Pah Meto community in South Central Timor has the concept of high working spirit and simple life. It is proven in their lives and daily work," he added.
Moreover, appreciation for the material is proven by their high appreciation of all results of human efforts, either in the form of objects, animals, and crops. Eliasar admitted that work ethics and ethical values adopted by Atoni Pah Meto community, such as commonality, harmony, paternalistic, are the things that become their basic working capital. The principles of harmonious relationship between community and God continue to be maintained by viewing that working is a spiritual calling.