Determinan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) Legal Berulang (Studi Fenomenologi: Kecamatan Talawi Kabupaten Batu Bara)

Abstract

This study aims to understand the social factors that influence women's decisions to return as legal Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) more than once. The phenomenon of repeated migration in Talawi District, Batu Bara Regency, is not solely driven by economic needs, but also shaped by social pressures, marital status, cultural stereotypes, and family relationship dynamics. This research employs a qualitative approach using a phenomenological method to explore the lived experiences of women who have legally migrated abroad more than once. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with ten female informants who had worked abroad legally two or more times. Bowen Family Systems Theory was used to analyze the emotional relationship patterns within families that contribute to migration decisions. The findings reveal several non-economic determinants influencing repeated legal migration. These include family pressure to support household income, being single or widowed women who often face social marginalization, and positive and beneficial experiences during their first migration, which encouraged a desire to return abroad. Additionally, the ease of access to formal labor agencies and the influence of social media particularly the phenomenon of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) further reinforce the motivation for repeat migration. Bowen’s theory explains that family projection processes, nuclear family emotional systems, and multigenerational transmission processes significantly contribute to women's repeated migration decisions. This study concludes that repeated legal migration is not merely an economic strategy, but also a response to the social and emotional realities faced by women.