Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia: Damages in Family Structure System in Their Hometown

Abstract

This paper aims to examine how changes occur in the families of temporary migrant workers after they leave to work in Malaysia. A qualitative approach with case studies through collecting interview data was carried out to the families of migrant workers in Air Joman Village, Asahan Regency, Indonesia. Using 8 concepts of Bowen's family system theory as a data analysis technique on various cases of families in the villages of origin of migrant workers. The results of this study found several cases that caused the breakdown of the families of migrant workers who worked in Malaysia. 1) differentiation of self such as family estrangement, disharmonious husband and wife relationship, elopement, child and parent land disputes, entangled in family debts 2) Triangules like other ideal women, abuse of remittances by siblings and in-laws, affair with in-laws 3) Nuclear family emotional system such as: Domestic violence, infidelity 4) Family Projection Process such as Divorce, loss of parents 5) emotional cut-off such as child delinquency, splitting of the child-husband-wife relationship 6) Multigenerational transmission process such as working in Malaysia as a tradition , intragenerational mobility 7) sibling position such as orphans, replacement role by siblings 8) social regression such as new rich people and neighbors' pout. The emergence of this problem in migrant families should be overcome by involving facilitators directly with families in providing social assistance and counseling on family dysfunction to reduce conflicts that occur. The government can also be involved by providing policies related to increasing motivation, outreach and increasing job opportunities with an emphasis on local local wisdom without having to work in Malaysia.