GCRF_NF154: Socio-economic and health impact of Covid-19 on international female migrants and their left-behind families in Indonesia

Lead Research Organisation: University of Portsmouth
Department Name: Sch of Health and Care Professions

Abstract

Rationale:
There are about 1.3 million women from Indonesia working abroad, mainly in the Middle East and South East Asia, as maids and carers in private houses. They leave their families in Indonesia. Husbands who live in Indonesia look after their children. Migrant wives send money for family maintenance. Migrant women are generally vulnerable to neglect by employers and recipient countries because of their gender, poor economic situation, work status, nationality. There are no studies on the impact of Covid-19 on migrants' access to health care; job losses; wage cuts; delayed wages; issues around returning home; welfare of left behind family. Reliable data on the impact of Covid-19 are urgently needed for the government to take timely action.

Project aim:
Study socio-economic and health impact of Covid-19 on international female migrants and their families in Indonesia, and make policy recommendations to the Indonesian government to minimise negative consequences.

Evidence needed:
Gather data on the impact of Covid-19 on health, economic, and social welfare of migrants and family via household survey, interviews and online survey.

Final output:
Rapid and final policy recommendation papers for the Government of Indonesia.

What are the benefits of this study?
Adoption of rapid response recommendation by the Government of Indonesia in to their policy/programme for Covid-19. Enable migrant women to access Covid-19 tests and treatment if needed, economic support to those who need it most, facilitate travel to return home, social support to the migrants and families.
 
Description 1. The delay of remittances sent by migrant worker during the pandemic has caused economic problems for their left-behind family. The key problem was due to inability of migrant women to send money to Indonesia due to closure of money transfer facilities in shops.
2. There were salary cut and job loss for those who were working as part time workers.
3. The national government has issued umbrella policies through Presidential Decree Number 11 of 2020 on The Declaration of a Public Health Emergency due to COVID-4. The Ministry of Manpower, Government of Indonesia responded by issuing the decree Number 151 of 2020 on Temporary Suspension of Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers. When the crisis reduced, the ministry revoked Decree Number 151 of 2020 and declared Decree Number 294 of 2020 on Implementation of the Placement of Indonesian Migrant Workers During the Period of Adaptation to New Habits. But the policies are very general. There were no practical guidelines to address migrant and their family's specific issues.
4. The number of overseas missions' staff were not sufficient to handle the massive crisis.
5. Migrant workers in Hong Kong and Taiwan had fewer had problems during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to migrant workers in Malaysia and Middle East.
6. In the local context, specific programs were not found to address migrant and their family. They were not perceived as vulnerable groups.
7. Migrant women expressed anxiety about health and economic condition of the left behind family in Indonesia.
8. Migrant women were worried about getting infected.
9. Migrant women worked extra hours and extended working load to serve their stay-at-home employers.
Exploitation Route By contracting lead researchers via email
Sectors Communities and Social Services/Policy,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other
 
Description 1. Research-related impact: • Type of problem/knowledge: Addressing research gap - The research provides new insight regarding the socio-economic and health impact of Covid-19 on Indonesian female migrants and their left behind families. • Publication and papers: Research findings have been presented in several international conference that address issues related to women (research findings were presented at the international conference - International Journal of Gender, Culture and Society (ICGCS) 2021). It also have been published as book chapter regarding the impact of Covid-19 on the children of Indonesian Female migrants. • Research network: University of Portsmouth, University of Brawijaya, and NGO (Migrant Care). • Communication: The main objective of our communication and visibility strategy is to ensure communication reaches relevant ministries, impact multipliers, community groups, and the general public. We used several communication methods including newspapers, dissemination workshop, media (Local TV), and university website to provide updates about the project findings and policy recommendations. 2. Policy Impact: • Level of policy-making: Local Government in Malang City • Type of policy: Service policy (assistance programme for left-behind family members) • Nature of policy impact: Our research findings had been used by the authority on at leas two response program: food assistance program for female migrants families and community based parenting program for left-behind families and children. The findings of our research have been used by Malang authority to inform village administrators in the district in administrating target group of food assistance program. Before we presenting the findings, the authority did not include left behind families member and female migrants workers as target group of the program. Through our project, we were able to show robust evidence to Malang authority showing them the real condition of female migrants and her left behind families. Hence, the authority decided to include them as one of target group of the program. • Policy network: 14 policy makers from National and Local governments were invited during research dissemination workshop on 9 April 2021. • Political capital: This research contributed to help the Indonesian government in mapping the policy or programmes regarding the economic, health and social welfare of female migrants and their left-behind family. 3. Societal Impact: • Knowledge, attitudes and behaviour: On 1 November 2021 we conducted the training in Girimulyo Village, Gedangan District, Malang Regency. 27 migrant worker families attended the training which contribute to the improvement of the human resources of the families of female migrant workers in the pattern of child-rearing in the Village. • Social capital and empowerment: Our community capacity building program on community-based parenting for migrant workers families was also inspired the authority in Malang to conduct similar trainings in other villages. In total, 127 families of female migrants' workers had been trained by the authority.
First Year Of Impact 2021
Impact Types Societal,Policy & public services
 
Description Participation in Policy Making in Women Empowerment Forum by the Indonesian Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Title Household survey data (sample size 600) 
Description Household survey conducted in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia Data contains demographic, migration status data, and Covid-19 testing and treatment 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2020 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact NA 
 
Title Online survey of international female migrants from Indonesia (sample size: 2,827) 
Description This is the first wave of online survey data 
Type Of Material Database/Collection of data 
Year Produced 2021 
Provided To Others? No  
Impact NA 
 
Description Migrant Care Indonesia 
Organisation Migrant CARE
Country Indonesia 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution We are jointly conducting online survey on Indonesian Female Migrants
Collaborator Contribution Provides a platform to disseminate study findings (staff time/web platform)
Impact online survey of female migrants
Start Year 2020
 
Description Ministry of Manpower 
Organisation Government of Indonesia
Department Ministry of Manpower
Country Indonesia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Provide research data as an input for policy recommendation
Collaborator Contribution Provides a platform to obtain national government input (staff time and confidential data regarding female migrants)
Impact Rapid policy recommendation
Start Year 2020
 
Description Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection 
Organisation Government of Indonesia
Department Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection
Country Indonesia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Provide research data as an input for policy recommendation
Collaborator Contribution Provide a platform to obtain national government input (staff time and confidential data)
Impact Rapid policy recommendation
Start Year 2020
 
Description Regional Development Planning Agency of Malang 
Organisation Government of Indonesia
Country Indonesia 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Provide research data as an input for local policy recommendation
Collaborator Contribution Provide a local platform to obtain local government input (staff time and fieldwork support)
Impact rapid policy recommendation
Start Year 2020
 
Description Policy Workshop and Research Dissemination with policymakers and stakeholders on 9 April 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact On 9 April 2021, Portsmouth-Brawijaya Centre has held a Policy Workshop and Research Dissemination with relevant policymakers and stakeholders, to report and discuss our findings regarding the Socio-economic and health impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic on the Indonesian Female Migrant workers and their left-behind families. The workshop was attended by more than 20 participants, including relevant participants from the governments, related organisations, and also researchers from the University of Brawijaya and the University of Portsmouth.
The purpose of the activity is as a medium for discussion between the Research Team and related parties, to help analyse the findings of the research, as well as provide input and responses regarding policy recommendations related to the problems of Indonesian female migrant workers and their left-behind families, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The discussion occurred between the research team and policymakers in regards to the update of the government's action and the research findings. All parties shared their opinion and gave input or feedback on the findings. In the concluding remarks, we suggested possible policy recommendations to the policymakers, in order to solve the problem or issue related to the well-being of Female migrants and their left-behind families.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021