Level of economic prosperity, social status and comfortable living of migrant workers in Tulungagung District, Indonesia

Abstract

Indonesia provides a particularly intriguing context for a study of international migration of workforce. Most of the villages in Indonesia have been a sender of labor abroad. Remittance from migrant workers working overseas undoubtedly has a positive impact on socioeconomic development of local community in the country of origin. This research has conducted to get a general picture on the level of value-expectancy of Indonesian migrant workers working overseas, particularly in terms of their economic prosperity, level of comfortable living, as well as social status achieved in community. The research, which is using survey design, has been conducted at Tulungagung district, East Java, Indonesia. To meet this objective, 250 Indonesian migrant workers working overseas which are on their leave at the study area have been chosen for interviews. Results of the study show that remittance inflows have a significant impact on the level of economic prosperity, comfortable living, as well as social status achieved in community. Thus, it is not wrong when the main purpose of doing international migration is to improve the economic condition of the family.