Developing A Model for Women Economic Empowerment for Indonesian Former Migrant Workers

Abstract

Transnational domestic work is considered a multi-billion business that involves mostly women as workers, but requires cooperation between sending and receiving countries. It is also supported by private sector recruitment agents and institutions that provide services such as transportation, banking, and health. At the local level, this business is maintained by social, cultural, and economic factors that keep the flow of worker migration. This paper specifically focuses on the life of returned transnational domestic workers living in Bondan village of the Indramayu district (West Java province, Indonesia) including two main points of women’s experience on working overseas and its impact to the life of the women. Applying participatory action research method, the study involved fifty female participants (n=50) in in-depth interviews. The study shows that due to work-related issues, not all of the women are successful to achieve their dreams of helping their families. Furthermore, applying theory of change and action, the study introduces a model of community economic development (CED) that aims to help women and families. The model has been developed in a form of CED project aiming to improve the women’s knowledge, entrepreneurial skill and experiences, business management, teamwork and collective responsibilities.