Rural Migration Governance: A Comparison of Desmigratif and Desbumi Approaches in Empowering and Protecting Indonesian Migrant Workers

An'ngam Khafifi; Muhammad  Naufal Rizky

doi:10.22500/14202672219

Authors

An'ngam Khafifi Sociology Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Jember, Jl. Kalimantan 37, Jember, East Java, 68121, Indonesia
Muhammad Naufal Rizky Master of Business, Monash Business School, Monash University, 900 Dandenong Road, Caulfield East, VIC 3145, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22500/14202672219

Keywords:

Desbumi, Desmigratif, Migrant Workers, Rural Empowerment, Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This research aims to compare the approaches of the Productive Migrant Village or Desa Migrant Produktif (Desmigratif) and Migrant Worker Care Village or Desa Peduli Buruh Migran (Desbumi) programs in the protecting and empowering Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI), while simultaneously formulating migration governance framework at the rural level. Utilizing a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method on 16 articles, it was found that Desmigratif emphasizes the economic strengthening and entrepreneurship while Desbumi focuses on the rights literacy and legal advocacy. Academically, the research contributes to the literature on sociology of development by synthesizing the technocratic-top-down approach of Desmigratif with the emancipatory-bottom-up approach of Desbumi through the lens of Giddens’ Structuration Theory. This integration offers a new conceptual framework called ‘Rural Migration Governance’, which explains how formal state structures and community agency can be synchronized to create a holistic protection model for migrant workers. The results conclude that the synergy of the two models is crucial to create a holistic and sustainable protection model. The research suggests policy makers integrate both interventions into a comprehensive village regulatory framework.

References

Afwa, U., & Hartini, S. (2023). Strengthening migrant CARE: A comprehensive approach to ensure worker protection and safeguard the rights of Indonesian migrants. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 11(12), e1454–e1454. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v11i12.1454

Anggara, R., Mulyana, S., Gayatri, G., & Hafiar, H. (2024). Understanding the motivations of being Indonesian migrant workers. Cogent Social Sciences, 10(1), 2333968. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2024.2333968

Arohmi, A. F. (2020). Legal Protection for Illegal Indonesian Worker in Malaysia. Media of Law and Sharia, 1(4). https://doi.org/10.18196/mls.v1i4.9186

Arora-Jonsson, S., & Larsson, O. (2021). Lives in limbo: Migrant integration and rural governance in Sweden. Journal of Rural Studies, 82, 19–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2021.01.010

Basrowi, B. (2019). Dampak Pekerja Migran Perempuan Terhadap Status Sosial Ekonomi Keluarga, Tingkat Pendidikan, dan Kesehatan Anak. Kafaah: Journal of Gender Studies, 9(1), 63–73. https://doi.org/10.15548/jk.v9i1.232

Bastaman, K., Nawawi, A., & Taharudin, T. (2020). Efektivitas Program Desa Migran Produktif (DESMIGRATIF) Pada Dinas Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Kabupaten Subang. The World of Public Administration Journal. https://doi.org/10.37950/wpaj.v2i2.928

BP2MI. (2024). Data Pelayanan Penempatan dan Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (Januari s.d. Desember 2024). Pusat Data dan Informasi Kementerian PErlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia/Badan Pelindungan Pekerja Migran indonesia.

BP2MI. (2025). Data Penempatan dan Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia. Pusat Data dan Informasi Kementerian Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia/ Badan Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia.

Chan, Y. W., & Piper, N. (2024). Home-bound precarity: Home violence on return Indonesian migrant domestic workers. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 50(20), 5029–5044. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2024.2346617

Chetail, V. (2025). Elgar Concise Encyclopedia of Migration and Asylum Law. Edward Elgar Publishing.

Darnela, L., & Kharlie, A. T. (2023). Tackling for Human Trafficking: Village-based Movement of Migrant Workers in Lembata, Indonesia. Jurnal Cita Hukum, 11(1), 127–148. https://doi.org/10.15408/jch.v11i1.30970

Darnela, L., & Sugitanata, A. (2024). Perempuan Pekerja: Kemaslahatan Dalam Larangan Menjadi Buruh Migran Di Dusun Sade, Nusa Tenggara Barat. Musãwa Jurnal Studi Gender Dan Islam, 23(1), 39–54. https://doi.org/10.14421/musawa.2024.223.39-54

Dwiningwarni, S., Suyanto, S., & DWI, A. S. (2025). Strategi Peningkatan Kesejahteraan Pekerja Migran Indonesia (PMI) Purna Wanita Melalui Program Desmigratif. JURNAL EKONOMIKA DAN BISNIS (JEBS): Universitas Dharma Andalas, 5(1), 87–97. https://doi.org/doi.org/10.47233/jebs.v5i1.2553

Fitria, N. (2023). The Urgency of Human Security in Protecting the Rights of Migrant Workers: Case Study Indonesian Migrant Workers In Malaysia And Hong Kong. International Journal of Engineering Business and Social Science, 1(03), 98–105. https://doi.org/10.58451/ijebss.v1i03.28

Giddens, A. (1984). The constitution of society: Outline of the theory of structuration. Univ of California Press.

Hariani, S., & Rijal, N. K. (2023). Strategi Preventif Pemerintah Nusa Tenggara Barat dalam Mewujudkan Zero Unprocedural PMI. Hasanuddin Journal of International Affairs, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.31947/hjirs.v3i1.23978

Hartono, D., & Samsuria, I. K. (2021). Legal protection of Indonesian migrant workers: International law, national regulations and contemporary problems. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 10, 859–865. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4409.2021.10.101

Ikrimah, A., Martha, L. B., Bagus, P. I., Achmad, B. F., Yogananta, M., & Antriyanti, E. (2020). Design of Assistance Program for Optimization of Indonesian Labor Houshold (TKI) Remitance in Mojorejo Migrant Productive Village, Karangmalang, Sragen. Journal of Agribusiness, 3(2), 124–134. https://doi.org/10.32530/jace.v3i2.271

Karyati, S., & Adiwirahayu, A. (2018). Strategi Pelaksanaan Program Desa Migran Produktif Di Desa Kuripan Kecamatan Watumalang Kabupaten Wonosobo. Jurnal Pembangunan Masyarakat Dan Desa, 27(2), 37–37. https://doi.org/Jurnal.apmd.ac.id/index.php/jpmd/article/view/53

Kraus, S., Breier, M., Lim, W. M., Dabić, M., Kumar, S., Kanbach, D., Mukherjee, D., Corvello, V., Piñeiro-Chousa, J., & Liguori, E. (2022). Literature reviews as independent studies: Guidelines for academic practice. Review of Managerial Science, 16(8), 2577–2595. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-022-00588-8

Kusumawati, M. P. (2017). Ironi Perdagangan Manusia Berkedok Pengiriman “Pahlawan Devisa Negara.” Jurnal Hukum Novelty, 8(2), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.26555/novelty.v8i2.a7155

Ladegaard, H. J. (2023). Migrant workers’ narratives of return: Alienation and identity transformations. Routledge.

Lavenex, S., & Piper, N. (2019). Regional migration governance: Perspectives from above and from below. In The dynamics of regional migration governance (pp. 15–35). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788119948.00007

Medland, L. (2021). Reconsidering migration dynamics within diverse rural spaces. In Handbook on the Governance and Politics of Migration (pp. 267–278). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Mindarti, L. I., & Anggraeni, F. (2020). The empowerment of post-Indonesian migrant workers’ family through a productive migrant village program (Desmigratif). 31–38. https://doi.org/10.2991/aebmr.k.201116.006

Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., Altman, D. G., & Prisma Group. (2010). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. International Journal of Surgery, 8(5), 336–341. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsu.2010.02.007

Nasir, G. A., & Muhidin, A. (2025). Protection Of The Constitutional Rights of Indonesian Migrant Workers Abroad Post-Placement In Destination Countries. Justitia Jurnal Hukum, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.30651/justitia.v9i1.25909

Next Indonesia. (2025, May 18). Saling Silang Data Pekerja Migran—Next Indonesia. https://nextindonesia.id/Research/2025/05/18/116/Saling-Silang-Data-Pekerja-Migran

Nurlinah, Haryanto, & Sunardi. (2020). New development, old migration, and governance at two villages in Jeneponto, Indonesia. World Development Perspectives, 19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2020.100223

Nuzula, F., Roza, H., & Hazami, M. F. (2024). Desmigratif Program: Implementation Evaluation and Policy Recommendations for Sustainability Enhancement. Jurnal Ketenagakerjaan, 19(3), 315–330. https://doi.org/10.47198/jnaker.v19i3.433

Putri, S. K. (2020). Pelaksanaan program desmigratif sebagai upaya pengurangan jumlah pekerja migran Indonesia non prosedural di Desa Arjowilangun Kabupaten Malang. Novum: Jurnal Hukum, 7(4). https://doi.org/10.2674/novum.v7i4.34194

Rahmayanti, A. (2021). Optimalisasi Pusat Layanan Migrasi Desmigratif di Masa Pandemi Covid-19. Jurnal Komunikasi Nusantara, 3(2), 80–91. https://doi.org/10.33366/jkn.v3i2.66

Ritzer, G. (2004). Encyclopedia of social theory. Sage publications.

Rohimi, R. (2021). Assitance of Female Migrant Workers (Case Study of the Migrant Workers Care Village Program (Desbumi) in Darek Village, Southwest Praya District, Central Lombok Regency). HUMANISMA : Journal of Gender Studies, 5(2), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.30983/humanisme.v5i2.3921

Shi, X., Ling, G. H. T., & Leng, P. C. (2025). Demographic change and commons governance: Examining the impacts of rural out-migration on public open spaces in China through a social–ecological systems framework. Land, 14(7), 1444. https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071444

Sihaloho, M., Wahyuni, E. S., & Kinseng, R. A. (2016). Rural poverty, population mobility, and agrarian change: A historical overview. Sodality, 4(1), 180749. https://doi.org/10.22500/sodality.v4i1.14406

Sitamala, A. (2023). Pemberdayaan Calon Pekerja Migran Indonesia (CPMI) Melalui Program Desa Migran Produktif (Desmigratif). Jurnal Hukum Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat, 2, 31–38. https://doi.org/10.51825/pcsj.v2i1

Snyder, H. (2019). Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines. Journal of Business Research, 104, 333–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039

Sumarti, T., Wahyuni, E. S., & Johan, I. R. (2022). Optimizing Left-behind Children’s Well-being of Migrant Worker’s Families in Rural Areas through Strengthening the Nuclear Family System: A Perspective from Child’s View. Sodality: Jurnal Sosiologi Pedesaan, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.22500/10202240379

Sutrisno, R., & Zuhri, M. A. S. (2024). Protecting Migrant Workers: The Legal Role of Village Governments Through Service Centers. Rechtenstudent, 5(3), 211–223. https://doi.org/10.35719/rch.v5i3.354

Triandafyllidou, A. (2022). Decentering the study of migration governance: A radical view. Geopolitics, 27(3), 811–825. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2020.1839052

Wafiroh, N., & Septiarti, S. W. (2024). Empowerment of Women Former Migrant Workers Through Community-Based Education: A Case Study of The Community of Desa Peduli Buruh Migran (DESBUMI). Jurnal Antropologi: Isu-Isu Sosial Budaya, 26(2), 255–263. https://doi.org/10.25077/jantro.v26.n2.p255-263.2024

Widyastuti, R. (2022, April 12). The Role of NGO In Empowering Woman Returned Indonesian Migrant Workers In Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Gender, Culture and Society, ICGCS 2021, 30-31 August 2021, Padang, Indonesia. https://eudl.eu/doi/10.4108/eai.30-8-2021.2316256

Wijaya, O. H., & Setiyono, B. (2020). Perlindungan Pekerja Migran Dari Perspektif Community Development (Studi Kasus Desa Nyerot Kec. Jonggat Kab. Lombok Tengah Prov. Nusa Tenggara Barat). Journal of Politic and Government Studies, 9(03), 51–60. https://doi.org/https://ejournal3.undip.ac.id/index.php/jpgs/article/view/27794