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South Korea presents multidimensional challenges for the Indonesian diaspora, particularly Indonesian migrant workers (PMI), in maintaining their Islamic identity in a secular society with a highly disciplined work culture. This article documents the implementation of the UINSA International Community Engagement (UICE) 2025 program, an initiative that integrates student mobility with community service using the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach. This research uses a descriptive qualitative method to explore the potential and assets of the community at Al-Barokah Mosque, Gimhae, which include individual, social, physical, spiritual, and economic assets. The program implementation focused on empowerment and education through mental strengthening seminars, digital da'wah (podcasts), fiqh studies for women, the establishment of a Quran Education Park (TPQ) for migrant children, and support for the mosque's economic independence (BUMM). The results of the activities show that cross-cultural interaction and this asset-based approach are effective in strengthening Islamic identity, building transnational solidarity, and empowering the PMI community to be more independent and resilient in facing social vulnerability in a minority country.

This study aims to explore the implementation of creative learning through pipe cleaner crafts among children of Indonesian migrant workers at Sanggar Bimbingan Kampung Baru, Malaysia. The study adopts a qualitative research approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the learning process and participants’ experiences in a non-formal educational setting. Data were collected through observation, interviews, and documentation involving 26 children aged between 4 and 13 years old. The data were analyzed using the interactive model of Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña, including data reduction, data display, and conclusion drawing. The findings reveal that the implementation of craft-based learning significantly enhances students’ engagement, creativity, and social interaction. The use of pipe cleaner materials encourages active participation and allows children to express their ideas through hands-on activities. In addition, the learning process fosters collaboration among students, contributing to the development of social skills. However, challenges were identified, particularly related to differences in age and levels of understanding among participants.

Organized cross-border crimes that deprive human rights, namely the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO), often use population migration routes as the main entry route. This research seeks to review how criminal law is applied to trafficking perpetrators who take advantage of immigration access, as well as uncover the obstacles that arise when law enforcement is carried out in the area of the Class II Immigration Office of TPI Belawan. This study adopts an empirical juridical approach with a qualitative analysis framework. Information collection was carried out through the review of regulatory documents and in-depth discussions with officials at the Class II Immigration Office of TPI Belawan. The research findings indicate that enforcement efforts against trafficking cases in the Belawan operational area rely on Law No. 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Trafficking and Law No. 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration. It was identified that the modes of violation that often occur are falsification of travel documents and the abuse of residence permits to facilitate the sending of illegal migrant workers abroad. Significant obstacles faced include challenges in proving criminal elements, disconnection of the perpetrator network, and lack of synergy between law enforcement agencies in the port area. In closing, improving immigration surveillance capabilities and strengthening partnerships are important means to reduce the threat of human trafficking through the sea route in the Belawan area.

This study analyzes the implementation of Good Governance in enhancing consular services at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Tawau, using a qualitative approach with a case study paradigm. The findings reveal several key points: First, transparency in consular services is achieved through openness about procedures, fees, and service time standards via official platforms like websites, social media, and notice boards. This transparency reduces information asymmetry, prevents maladministration, and builds trust. Second, service accountability is reflected in the timely execution of passport renewals, Emergency Travel Documents, and document legalization, following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Accountability is further demonstrated through performance reports, complaint channels, and service evaluations. Third, public participation is fostered through two-way communication, complaint mechanisms, and collaboration with Indonesian citizen and migrant worker communities. The mobile consular service program also enhances accessibility. Finally, consular services are based on clear legal frameworks, ensuring the legitimacy of services and protection for Indonesian citizens and migrant workers. Overall, the study concludes that the implementation of Good Governance principles at the Consulate General of Indonesia in Tawau significantly improves the quality of consular services.

Consular services have become a critical site of state intervention in the governance of international labor migration, particularly for migrant-sending countries such as Indonesia whose citizens depend on overseas missions for administrative protection and access to public services abroad. Despite the growing importance of consular institutions in safeguarding migrant workers’ rights and welfare, existing scholarship remains fragmented, offering limited conceptual integration of how administrative capacity shapes institutional readiness in cross-border public service delivery. Addressing this gap, this article presents a structured narrative–integrative literature review that synthesizes international peer-reviewed studies on administrative capacity, policy capacity, consular services, and migrant worker protection published in the last five years. Drawing on Administrative Capacity Theory as the core framework, complemented by Public Service Theory, Policy Implementation Theory, Street-Level Bureaucracy, and Institutional Theory, the review systematically analyzes how different dimensions of capacity configure institutional readiness in consular services. The findings reveal that institutional readiness emerges from the interaction of four interrelated dimensions: human resource capacity, organizational and procedural capacity, institutional and coordination capacity, and resource and infrastructure capacity. Rather than functioning as isolated determinants, these dimensions collectively shape how consular institutions translate formal mandates into service outcomes under conditions of transnational governance, legal pluralism, and fluctuating demand. The review further demonstrates that frontline discretion, coordination gaps, procedural rigidity, and uneven resource allocation are recurrent patterns across the literature, underscoring the dynamic and practice-based nature of administrative capacity in consular contexts. Theoretically, this article contributes to public administration scholarship by extending administrative capacity frameworks into the underexplored domain of cross-border public services and by integrating previously segmented theoretical perspectives into a coherent conceptual synthesis. By reframing consular services as institutionally embedded public service systems rather than solely diplomatic functions, the article advances understanding of institutional readiness in migrant worker protection and provides a robust analytical foundation for future empirical and comparative research in international public administration.

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of income and employment opportunities on women's decision to become migrant workers, as well as the impact on the level of family welfare of women migrant workers. The approach used is a quantitative method by utilizing primary data collected through the distribution of questionnaires to female respondents who have worked or are currently working as migrant workers in Kecamatan Utan, Kabupaten Sumbawa Besar. Data analysis was conducted using the Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) method with the help of SmartPLS software. The research variables were measured using a number of indicators formulated based on the theoretical basis and the results of previous studies. The findings show that income has a positive and significant influence on women's decision to work as migrant workers, with a coefficient of 1.940 and a p-value of 0.000. In contrast, employment opportunities have a negative and significant effect on the decision, with a coefficient of -1.147 and a p-value of 0.000. Furthermore, women's decision to become migrant workers has a positive and significant effect on family welfare, as shown by a coefficient of 0.594 and a p-value of 0.001. However, income does not have a significant direct effect on family welfare, with a p-value of 0.151. Meanwhile, employment opportunities have a positive and significant influence on family welfare, with a coefficient of 0.691 and a p-value of 0.030. These results indicate that women's decision to become migrant workers functions as a mediating variable in efforts to improve family welfare.

This study examines the role of the private sector in collaborative politics to strengthen human security in preventing human trafficking in Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara Province. Human trafficking is an extraordinary crime that poses serious threats to human security, particularly for Indonesian Migrant Worker Candidates (CPMI) who are highly vulnerable to exploitation and illegal recruitment. The complexity of this issue requires the involvement of multiple actors, including not only the government but also the private sector. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method, with data collected through interviews, observation, and documentation. The research sites include BP3MI East Nusa Tenggara as a government representative and two private companies, PT Bakti Unggul Sejahtera (PT BUS) and PT AKKA AL-MATAR. The analysis is based on the collaborative governance framework proposed by Ansell and Gash, which emphasizes face-to-face dialogue, trust building, commitment to the process, shared understanding, and intermediate outcomes. The findings indicate that collaboration between the government and the private sector plays a significant role in preventing human trafficking through legal recruitment processes, pre-departure training, capacity building, and supervision of labor placement procedures. Although challenges remain in coordination and policy consistency, these collaborative practices contribute positively to strengthening the protection of migrant workers’ rights and security. This study concludes that collaborative politics between the government and the private sector is a crucial strategy in developing a human security–oriented human trafficking prevention system

Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) face the problem of stigmatization and negative image that has been rooted in public perception for several decades, where the social construction of TKI is dominated by narratives of exploitation, violence, and victimization reinforced by conventional mass media coverage. The phenomenon of TKI emerging as content creators on the TikTok platform opens new opportunities for migrant workers to represent themselves independently and build personal Branding that has the potential to reconstruct their image in public perception. This study aims to analyze the personal Branding strategies of TKI content creators on TikTok, measure the engagement patterns and reach of the content produced, and evaluate the transformation of public perception toward Indonesian migrant workers as an implication of these digital communication practices. This study uses a qualitative approach with a case study design to explore the process of image reconstruction through personal Branding on the TikTok platform. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with five TKI content creators who have followers ranging from 750 thousand to 2.3 million, interviews with 50 active followers, and interviews with two digital communication experts. The research findings show that TKI content creators implement personal Branding strategies through content authenticity, narrative consistency, and positioning differentiation with engagement rates. Public perception changed significantly with a decrease in negative perception from 68 percent to 18 percent and an increase in positive perception from 10 percent to 55 percent within an exposure period of more than 12 months. Image reconstruction occurs through three mechanisms: humanization that displays the human side of TKI, normalization that elevates the profession as work worthy of respect, and inspiration that demonstrates their positive achievements. This study recommends that the government and related stakeholders support digital literacy for migrant workers to optimize social media platforms as a means of empowerment, as well as promote policies that protect and appreciate the contribution of TKI as an integral part of national economic development.

Abstract. This study aims to examine the causes, forms, and strategies for combating violence against female Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from a legal, sociological, and gender perspective. The background of this research is based on the vulnerability of female PMI to various forms of physical, psychological, sexual, and economic violence, which occurs from the pre-placement stage to the post-placement stage, as well as the long-term impact on mental health, human rights, and socio-economic reintegration. The method used is empirical legal with primary data collection through in-depth interviews with female PMI victims of violence and accompanying institutions, as well as secondary data in the form of literature reviews, laws and regulations, and scientific publications. The analysis was conducted using descriptive qualitative methods, integrating human rights theory, Feminist Legal Theory, and international migration policy. The results of the study show that the vulnerability of female migrant workers is caused by economic factors, education, patriarchal culture, non-transparent recruitment processes, the characteristics of work in the informal sector, power imbalances with employers, and weak legal protection in the destination country. The forms of violence experienced include beatings, sexual harassment, threats, social isolation, wage withholding, and structural exploitation practices. Protection efforts implemented include preventive approaches through training, legal education, legal document guarantees, and assistance from law enforcement agencies, as well as repressive approaches through action against perpetrators of violence and bilateral cooperation with destination countries. This study emphasizes the importance of comprehensive and sustainable protection for female Indonesian migrant workers, covering all stages of labor migration as well as strengthening digital-based monitoring systems, officer capacity, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure the safety, dignity, and fulfillment of the human rights of female Indonesian migrant workers.  

Migrant workers are vulnerable to exploitation due to transnational and well-organized global human trafficking networks. Recently, a new modus operandi has emerged in human trafficking cases, namely recruitment under the pretext of employment in the overseas digital industry, promoted through social media and LinkedIn. Although these offers appear promising, they instead entrap migrant workers in trafficking schemes. Therefore, comprehensive case assistance involving the roles of government institutions and non-governmental organizations is urgently needed to protect victims. This study aims to examine the case assistance provided by Migrant CARE in addressing human trafficking cases in which victims are trapped as online scammers, viewed from a social welfare perspective. This research employs a descriptive qualitative approach through observation, interviews, and documentation. The findings indicate that the social interventions carried out by Migrant CARE are effective from the engagement stage through the follow-up stage. Supporting factors in the success of case assistance include proactive involvement from the government, victims, families, and the media. Meanwhile, inhibiting factors include the absence of personal documents such as passports, identity cards, and family cards, confiscation of mobile phones, and cross-national conflicts. From the individual perspective, supporting factors consist of personal resilience, courage, motivation, and skills, whereas inhibiting factors include victims’ hesitation to leave human trafficking situations due to fear of the risks involved.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of the SOSEK MALINDO (Malaysian-Indonesian Socio-Economic) regional collaboration program in addressing human trafficking, coordinated by the Regional Border Management Agency (BPPD) of the Riau Islands Province (Kepri). The Riau Islands Province, which borders Malaysia and Singapore, is a strategic entry point vulnerable to transnational crimes, including human trafficking. The main factors driving the people of Kepri to choose illegal routes to become Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI) to Malaysia are economic pressure, limited job opportunities, attractive promises from brokers (tekong), complex and expensive official bureaucracy, and a lack of accurate information about official procedures. This situation is exploited by human trafficking networks through hidden routes, illegal ports, and methods of illegal labor and sexual exploitation. Although SOSEK MALINDO aims to improve the socio-economic welfare of communities in border areas and indirectly functions to reduce vulnerability to human trafficking, this program does not specifically make human trafficking its main focus. The BPPD plays a very important role as a liaison in cooperation with the Indonesian National Police, Immigration, and BP3MI for prevention and supervision. However, the BPPD faces challenges such as limited funding, overlapping authority between institutions, and a lack of accurate data on human trafficking. Strategic recommendations include making human trafficking a primary focus of the SOSEK MALINDO forum agenda, establishing a dedicated cross-border human trafficking task force, strengthening the BPPD's role in coordination and information gathering, and involving local communities, NGOs, and international organizations in mitigation efforts.

The increasing number of Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKW) working abroad, particularly through programs organized by BP2MI, has become a significant concern in managing the labor export process. One of the challenges faced is the uncertainty of the number of TKW to be sent each year, which is influenced by various external and internal factors. Therefore, this study aims to apply artificial neural networks (ANN) with a backpropagation algorithm approach to predict the number of TKW that will be processed by BP2MI. This method was chosen due to its ability to recognize patterns and nonlinear relationships between variables that affect the decision-making process for TKW export. In this study, the data used includes factors such as the number of job seekers, government policies, and the condition of the international labor market. The artificial neural network with the backpropagation algorithm is used to train the model based on existing historical data, with the goal of generating accurate predictions regarding the number of TKW to be processed in the coming years. The results of the tests show that the developed model can provide fairly accurate predictions and can serve as a tool for BP2MI in planning and managing the export of TKW more effectively. With the application of this technology, it is expected that the decision-making process related to TKW export can become more efficient and well-predicted.

This study examines the legal protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) following the revocation of the moratorium on deployment to Saudi Arabia. Using a normative juridical approach with a descriptive-analytical specification, the research explores the effectiveness of Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, the impact of the moratorium revocation on the rights and security of PMI, and the implementation of bilateral cooperation through the Indonesia–Saudi Arabia Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The findings reveal that although the existing legal framework is comprehensive, its implementation remains weak, particularly regarding supervision and law enforcement in destination countries. The study identifies a gap between administrative regulations and substantive protection, as reflected in the persistent cases of violence, delayed wages, and exploitation in the domestic sector. Strengthening the effectiveness of PMI protection requires synergy between legal reform, digital-based monitoring systems, and human rights–based diplomacy. Therefore, Indonesia must reinforce its political commitment, institutional coordination, and bilateral mechanisms to ensure the fulfillment of migrant workers’ fundamental rights and dignity abroad.

Human trafficking constitutes a transnational crime that inflicts physical, psychological, and economic suffering upon its victims. This research aims to analyze the fulfillment of restitution rights for victims of human trafficking and examine preventive efforts from the immigration perspective. According to Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Human Trafficking, every victim has the right to restitution as compensation for losses suffered. However, implementation in practice still encounters numerous obstacles, including weak law enforcement, limited understanding among law enforcement officers, and insufficient technical regulations. This normative legal research employs statutory and conceptual approaches to examine primary legal materials, including Law Number 21 of 2007, Law Number 6 of 2011 on Immigration, and various implementing regulations. The findings indicate that legal protection for victims of human trafficking has not been optimal, with challenges including difficulties in proving immaterial losses, dual procedural systems between the Human Trafficking Law and Criminal Procedure Code, and weak coordination among law enforcement agencies. The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) often cannot guarantee restitution payments as determined by judges. From the immigration perspective, the Directorate General of Immigration plays a strategic role in preventing human trafficking through travel document control, implementation of the Integrated Border Control Management (IBCM) system, education for prospective migrant workers, and cross-sectoral collaboration. However, challenges persist, including complex and evolving modus operandi, limited resources in remote border areas, and inter-agency coordination obstacles. The study concludes that synergy between institutions and improvements in education and regulation are required to ensure victims' restitution rights are fulfilled effectively.  

This study aims to analyse the role of the Department of Manpower in providing protection to former Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) returning from abroad and to identify the challenges encountered in performing this function. This research employs a normative juridical approach using secondary data sources, including statutory regulations, scientific journals, and institutional reports from 2020 to 2025. The findings reveal that the Department of Manpower plays several key roles, including providing information and education, coordinating with related agencies, offering legal assistance, supporting social and economic reintegration, and monitoring non-procedural placements. These roles are firmly grounded in Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers and Government Regulation Number 59 of 2021. However, implementation remains constrained by inaccurate data, limited human resources and budget, weak institutional coordination, and suboptimal legal complaint services. Despite these challenges, efforts have been made through strengthening integrated services, staff training, public education, and the use of information technology. This study concludes that the protection of former migrant workers requires a holistic, participatory, and sustainable approach to ensure the fulfilment of their rights as mandated by law.

Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) play a crucial role in the nation's economy, as shown by their participation in overseas employment and the remittances they send back. Nevertheless, PMI frequently encounter challenges such as abuse, exploitation, breaches of contracts, and limited access to legal protections. The comprehensive legal structure designed to ensure their inclusive safety before, during, and after their employment is laid out in Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers. This research aims to analyze the actual practice of legal protections available to PMI, in light of statutory requirements, and to highlight any obstacles encountered in its application. A normative legal research method is used in this study, employing both legislative and theoretical frameworks, and it is informed by relevant academic literature, laws, and judicial rulings. The findings reveal that while Law No. 18 of 2017 outlines thorough protection protocols, its real-world execution faces hurdles such as insufficient oversight, poor cooperation among agencies, and a general lack of legal knowledge among PMI. Consequently, it is essential to enhance institutions, elevate the quality of protective services, and maximize the effectiveness of Indonesian representatives abroad. This study aims to contribute to the development of more equitable and efficient regulations for the safeguarding of migrant workers.

This study discusses legal protection for victims of human trafficking disguised as job vacancies in Myanmar, which has affected hundreds of Indonesian citizens. This phenomenon shows a new mode of digital-based human trafficking through social media, offering fictitious high-paying jobs that ultimately lead to forced labor in the online scamming sector. This study uses a normative legal research method with a legislative and conceptual approach, which examines Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Eradication of Human Trafficking, Law Number 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, the 2000 Palermo Protocol, and a number of International Labor Organization (ILO) conventions related to forced labor and labor migration. The results of the study show that this case fulfills the elements of human trafficking as stipulated in Article 2 paragraph (1) of the TPPO Law, because there are elements of recruitment, fraud, confinement, and forced labor exploitation. From an international law perspective, these actions violate the provisions of the Palermo Protocol and the ILO convention on the elimination of forced labor. The Indonesian government has a legal and moral responsibility to provide protection and recovery for victims of TPPO, as well as to ensure the principle of non-criminalization. However, the implementation of protection is still hampered by weak supervision of digital recruitment, jurisdictional limitations, and suboptimal cross-border cooperation. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the digital-based migrant protection system, enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and apply the principle of state due diligence in the prevention and enforcement of laws against cross-border TPPO.  

The phenomenon of Indonesian migrant workers reflects a critical nexus between labor migration, international law, and sustainable development. Indonesia is among the world’s largest labor-sending countries, with millions of its citizens employed abroad, particularly in the Middle East and Asia. Remittances from migrant workers provide substantial economic benefits for the state and households, yet these workers often face systemic vulnerabilities including exploitation, discrimination, and inadequate legal protection. This article examines the extent to which international law and Indonesia’s national legal framework safeguard the rights of migrant workers while contributing to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth. International instruments such as the 1990 International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and their Families (ICRMW) and relevant ILO conventions provide comprehensive standards, but their effectiveness is constrained by limited ratification from key receiving states. At the domestic level, Indonesia has enacted Law No. 18 of 2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (UU PPMI), which represents a shift toward state responsibility and alignment with international human rights norms. Nevertheless, implementation challenges ranging from weak enforcement and bureaucratic overlap to insufficient diplomatic support abroad remain significant. The findings suggest that while Indonesia has made normative progress, practical protection is hindered by governance gaps and lack of cooperation from host countries. Strengthening enforcement, regional collaboration, and worker empowerment are crucial to ensuring that Indonesian migrant workers achieve genuine “decent work” as envisioned by SDG 8.

This research is motivated by the social problems of junior high school children in Panggul Village, Trenggalek, whose parents work as female migrant workers. The children show symptoms of lack of socialization, low self-confidence, and minimal emotional support from their mothers. This study aims to analyze the social competence and social responsibility of these children. The approach used is qualitative with a case study method. Informants consisted of 11 people, namely TKW husbands, substitute families, community leaders, and junior high school children. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results of this study indicate that junior high school children in Panggul Village who are left by their parents as TKW have the ability to interact with family, friends, and the community, but tend to have less understanding of the social conditions around them due to their indifference and lack of self-confidence. They are closed, have minimal empathy due to lack of role models from parents, and only show concern for peers. In terms of responsibility, these children have awareness of interacting with family, but still lack overall concern.

This research is motivated by the social problems of junior high school children in Panggul Village, Trenggalek, whose parents work as female migrant workers. The children show symptoms of lack of socialization, low self-confidence, and minimal emotional support from their mothers. This study aims to analyze the social competence and social responsibility of these children. The approach used is qualitative with a case study method. Informants consisted of 11 people, namely TKW husbands, substitute families, community leaders, and junior high school children. Data collection techniques include in-depth interviews, observation, and documentation. The results of this study indicate that junior high school children in Panggul Village who are left by their parents as TKW have the ability to interact with family, friends, and the community, but tend to have less understanding of the social conditions around them due to their indifference and lack of self-confidence. They are closed, have minimal empathy due to lack of role models from parents, and only show concern for peers. In terms of responsibility, these children have awareness of interacting with family, but still lack overall concern.