Migration Ecosystem Vulnerability and Protection Gaps: A Critical Policy Analysis of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia
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Keywords:
migration ecosystem vulnerability, Indonesian migrant workers, kafala system, multi-level governanceAbstract
Saudi Arabia has long been one of the primary destinations for Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), most of whom are women employed in domestic work. Despite their significant contribution to Indonesia’s economy through remittances, they continue to face systemic legal, socio-cultural, and economic vulnerabilities. This study examines these multidimensional challenges using a qualitative case study approach based on methodological triangulation of field interviews with migrant workers, consular officials, and community leaders, complemented by government documents, bilateral agreements, international reports, and relevant scholarly literature. Unlike previous studies that examine legal, labor, or human rights issues separately, this study employs the migration ecosystem vulnerability framework to explain how legal, institutional, economic, and socio-cultural factors interact throughout the migration cycle. The findings show that migrant vulnerability arises from interconnected governance failures in recruitment, labor regulation, diplomatic protection, and community support. Structural dependency under the kafala system, gendered informal migration pathways, and deficits in human security collectively reinforce migrants’ precarious conditions. The study proposes a multi-level governance approach that integrates strengthened bilateral cooperation, recruitment reform through the One Channel Placement System (SPSK), diaspora-based community empowerment, and sustainable reintegration programs. By linking these complementary policy measures, the study contributes to migration scholarship while offering an integrated framework to strengthen migrant protection and promote more preventive, inclusive, and dignified migration governance.
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