Analysis of Female Migrant Workers (TKW) Decision to Migrate to Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In Indonesia, the changes in labor market is caused by lack of investments has resulted in many people losing their jobs, causing the unemployment rate increases. Women involvement in family’s economy is an important phenomenon in globalization era. Indonesian women, particularly in rural lower-middle class are almost entirely involved in economic activities. By a migrant worker to other country is one solution to increase the family income from remittances sent by TKW. The study was aimed to analyze the factors of female migrant workers (TKW) decision to work to Saudi Arabia. The research method used was a mix of research methods sequential explanatory model, whereas for analyzing research data used Probit analysis tool for quantitative data analysis that comes with in-depth interviews to support and extend the results of quantitative analysis. The results showed that the factors that influence the decision of TKW to work to Saudi Arabia were ages, number of dependants, sense of prestige to work in Saudi Arabia, and the motivation to migrate is influenced by the network of relatedness between TKW earlier.

Keywords : migration decision, female workers, remittances, Saudi Arabia.