Women Migrant Workers as the Primary Breadwinners: Case Study

of Indonesian Women Migrant Workers (TKWs) in Hongkong

Khaeron Sirin

, M. Suparta

, Fuad Thohari

and Rena Latifa

UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, Jl. Ir. H. Juanda, No. 95, Ciputat, Indonesia

Keywords: Women migrant workers, Indonesian migrant workers, TKW, women breadwinners

Abstract: The role and the nature of women as wives and housewives who serve in the domestic sector is now

shifting. At first, most of them play role as wives and housewives who are responsible to take care of

domestic and household needs, but in turn, due to several factors, they have broadened their role and have

eventually entered the public sector. They are, for instance, naturally motivated to work for a living in

order to help their husbands or parents, and even occasionally endure their family needs. Such case has

happened to Indonesian women migrant workers (Tenaga Kerja Wanita/TKW) in Hongkong. They have

become the main breadwinners in their family, in which the needs of their household are mainly supported

and covered by their work. Overall, this study aims at exposing the real phenomenon that actually happens

or is encountered by the Indonesian women migrant workers (TKW) in Hongkong behind their status as

the main breadwinners in the family.

1 INTRODUCTION

Socio-culturally, Indonesian women are known as

tough and tenacious workers. They have an

important role in managing their family’s economy

and income. In an agrarian society, for example, the

women play significant role in helping their

husbands or parents and even replacing them

working in the farm when they are ill or unable to

work. In another words, they are really committed to

support their family in meeting the needs of every

day’s life. It means the appearance of women in the

work sector is very common among people in

Indonesia considering that they have been involved

in that sector for a long time, such as in agriculture,

farming, marine, and trading.

As the time changes, the role of women in

Indonesia has begun to shift. The decreasing of

agricultural lands and the development of

industrialization have forced rural women to walk

into the snares of capitalization as employees or

industry/factory labourers. Sadly, those who are less

educated and less skilled are even willing to work as

maids in order to sustain their family’s needs.

Such phenomenon has often happened

especially for widows or women who hold the

responsibility for the family to survive.

Unfortunately, the low salary in the domestic

country has not met the increasing needs of family

from day to day. In the end, they—willingly or

unwillingly—become labours or women migrant

workers (TKWs) to survive.

Consequently, their role which is initially trying

to help their husbands make a living while taking

care of and raising their children in the family has

eventually shifted into becoming the ‘responsible

person’ who has to make sure the living of all family

members. Quite often do their husbands even allow

them to work abroad as women migrant workers in

order to meet their household needs. In turn, the

position and role of the husbands, which is

supposedly becoming person in charge in the family,

has suddenly changed. In general, the women earn

higher income by working overseas compared to

their husbands who work in the village. In the end,

the role of the husbands has changed from dealing

with breadwinning into taking care of domestic

sector. In certain cases, they are likely to enjoy the

income of their wives.

This phenomenon shows the role of today’s

women is not only becoming as housewives but also

breadwinners as an effort to improve the living

standards of their family. Simply saying, they are

1464

Sirin, K., Suparta, M., Thohari, F. and Latifa, R.

Women Migrant Workers as the Primary Breadwinners: Case Study of Indonesian Women Migrant Workers (TKWs) in Hongkong.

DOI: 10.5220/0009929714641473

In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Recent Innovations (ICRI 2018), pages 1464-1473

ISBN: 978-989-758-458-9

willing to leave their husbands and children in the

village and make a living in order to guarantee their

family’s survival. They do not only look after their

children, parents, sisters, and brothers, but also to

support their husbands.

2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Hongkong is a special administrative city located

in the southeastern part of China (Geography and

Climate, Hongkong, 2015). It is known as a specific

or special city because it is famous for its expansive

development and natural sea port. In the late 1970s,

it became the major trade link and world financial

center and was regarded as one global city.

Surprisingly, it took the fifth position on the 2014’s

Global Cities Index after New York, London,

Tokyo, and Paris (Global Cities Index and Emerging

Cities Outlook, 2014). Financially, this city has high

per capita income and appears to be the third most

important financial center after New York and

London (The Global Financial Centres Index, 2014).

There is no wonder if Hongkong becomes the

destination for job seekers from various countries

that have lower per capita income, including

Indonesia. Besides applying extraordinary freedom,

Hongkong also upholds human rights and enforce

the law by punishing those who violate it (The

Annual Report of Indonesian Workers, 2012). The

high number of job opportunities in the domestic

sector happens because many women in

Hongkong—especially the wives—prefer working

outside the home and having careers (Dila, 2015).

Nowadays, as regards to the Indonesian migrant

workers (Tenaga Kerja Indonesia/TKIs) in

Hongkong, the city only employs women migrant

workers (TKWs) and does not receive men workers

because such position can be filled by Hongkong

citizens. There are approximately more than 137,000

of TKIs who come from Central Java and East Java,

and about 1,000 TKWs from West Java respectively.

This is the highest number after the number of

TKWs from Philippines (Chairman of KJRI, 2015).

Hongkong has become a powerful magnet for

TKWs who are willing to work overseas with high

salary and comfort. There, the rights of migrant

workers must be fulfilled by every employer who

uses their services such as the right to get a dayoff in

each week. If, for instance, they are asked to work,

the employer is obliged to pay overtime wage in lieu

of holiday.

“Besides having high salary, working in

Hongkong is also pleasant. There must be a dayoff

each week. For those who are asked to work during

the dayoff, they will get overtime wage. Usually, the

dayoff offers a great pleasure for the TKWs. They

can hang out to the city center, gather with friends,

and go for shopping here and there.” Said Alin, a

TKW from Tulungagung (Alin, 2015).

3 RESEARCH METHOD

To reveal the phenomenon of women migrant

workers (TKWs) in Hongkong as the primary

breadwinners in the family, this study applies

phenomenology which is used to determine the

identity of a person and see it as he/she imagines or

defines. It seems that we experience what he/she

experiences in his/her social life. In another word,

the fact which is considered important in

phenomenology is what is imagined by the actor at

the time it is happening (Bogdan & Taylor, 1975).

In the process, this study uses empirical

phenomenology to depict the experiences of the

Migrant Women Workers (TKWs) as the primary

breadwinners in the family. The goal is to analyze

the role of TKWs in Hongkong which can only be

done by acquiring data directly from them. Here, the

researcher does not interfere in determining the

meaning and essence of what they deliver. The

essence and meaning is formulated according to

their experiences and understanding towards the

object or phenomenon of women who work in

Hongkong as the primary breadwinners in the

family.

In the meantime, this study uses descriptive-

analysis approach (Bagoes, 2004) to describe the

experiences and conditions of TKWs who become

the primary breadwinners in Hongkong and their

influences according to Islam and gender

perspectives.

4 RESULTS

1. Woman Motivation in Working as TKWs

In general, there are several factors that encourage

women migrant workers from East Java to find a job

in Hongkong. According to the interviews with

several informants who have ever worked in the city,

they mention economic condition is the main factor

encouraging them to seek employment in Hongkong.

a. Economic demands

The desire to earn more income and to improve

the condition of the family life is the reason and the

Women Migrant Workers as the Primary Breadwinners: Case Study of Indonesian Women Migrant Workers (TKWs) in Hongkong

1465

main goal of rural women who dare themselves to

work in Hongkong.

Economic demand as one of the factors for

working as TKWs is mentioned by Juariyah (23 yo),

from Cirebon. She had strong desire to go to

Hongkong after getting divorced by her husband,

while she had to support her child, younger sister

and mother. Such case was also experienced by

Kokom who was divorced and has not get married

again. She has a daughter who is growing up and is a

student in High School. In addition, she has a

biological mother who still looks healthy. Her father

died a long time. In the family, the relationship

between her and her ex-husband is good, but it is

only limited to the relationship among Muslims.

However, her ex-husband has no longer provided a

living and school fees for their daughter.

This also happens to Atun. She works as a TKW

due to her family’s economic circumstance and a

desire to live more prosperously. As a woman raised

in Javanese environment, she feels obliged to

support her family which is basically the

responsibility of her husband. Since her husband’s

income is nearly enough to meet the needs of the

family, she is willing and ready to work as a TKW

overseas.

Being a TKW is one quick way to change the

economic condition for employment opportunities in

Indonesia are scarce and become more difficult to

find. Almost the entire informants explain that

working as TKWs would earn high salary. Such idea

is not without a cause, considering that the economic

condition of the family before they become TKIs

depends solely upon the wisdom of the traditional

sources of livelihood (rice fields, gardens), whereas

the traditional livelihoods are no longer able to

provide welfare for farm-worker families.

Consequently, the results obtained through the

traditional sources of livelihood do not lead to

balance the outcomes and the incomes.

b. Experience and Success Story from Other

TKWs

Besides economic demands, another reason that

encourages women to become TKWs in Hongkong

is gaining success. They are motivated by successful

experiences from the people in their region. Here,

the trending story is that working overseas as TKWs

will raise more money. Such story is supported by

many TKWs who have returned and bring success

which is seen from their ability to build a house or

buy a motorcycle and other luxury goods. In

addition, the success story also comes from friends

or relatives who could be clearly proved. Indeed, the

success of becoming TKWs overseas will make

people who are trapped under their family economic

issues to feel tempted. At least, such success stories

will stimulate the curiosity of those who live in the

village and are willing to gain new experiences

overseas.

The success of becoming TKWs indirectly has

encouraged other citizens to follow the path of their

relatives or neighbors to also become TKWs,

especially after considering that the resources in the

village are too unreliable to improve their family

economy. Such perspective is the factor that

encourages TKWs in Hongkong to willingly go

there.

Supiani, a TKW from Tulungagung, said that

her motivation to work overseas is influenced by her

surroundings. “Those who are highly educated also

become TKWs because many friends and relatives

in their neighbourhood go overseas. As you can see,

a husband who has worked as a teacher for 2-3 years

may not be able to build a house. By becoming a

TKI, to build a house is almost easy.

The same thing has happened to Kokom. Prior to

working in Hongkong, she ever worked as a TKW in

Singapore. Practically, what she earned from the

time she worked in Singapore was sufficiently

enough to use as capital for her business in the

village, but she had another obsession; she wanted to

accumulate more capital and get more experiences

working overseas as she thought she was young and

strong enough to work hard. In other words, besides

a desire to get more experiences, her motivation to

work in Hongkong was that she wanted to seek

fortune and get more income in order to live

properly, have a nice house, rice fields, and farms,

fullfil her family’s needs and her two children’s

educational fees, and make some savings for the

future.

Thus, the motivation to get experiences by

working overseas plays significant role in attracting

rural women’s interest. The experiences here are not

only related to working in Hongkong, but also some

experiences outside of work such as having a chance

to go overseas and visiting some places that they

have never seen before. Therefore, ones of

advantages of working overseas such as in

Hongkong are getting experiences, gaining

wonderful life, and being able as well as courageous

to live independently without having to rely on

others.

c. Encouragement from Family and Friends

According to the interviews, most TKWs in

Hongkong stated that their decision to work in

Hongkong as TKWs is driven by families, parents or

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husbands, and friends. In this case, family has also

played a major role in shaping their motivation to

work as TKWs.

2. The Role and Contribution of TKWs to the

Family Livelihoods

The existence of TKWs in Hongkong does not only

play significant role in improving the welfare of

their own family, but it also gives significant

influence to the welfare of the environment in which

they come from.

The high salary they earn by working in foreign

countries will have an impact on the socio-economic

status of their families. In the process, their high

income has great impact on increasing and

improving household revenue and economy. They

are able, for instance, to open and expand economic

activities (opening shops and trading), buy land and

make good house, buy vehicles or electronic

equipments, and pay their children education.

Before working as TKWs overseas (Hongkong),

most of them admit that they have experienced

financial issues such as difficulties in meeting their

economic needs. In fact, some have had to make

loan to cover their family needs. However, after

becoming TKWs, their economic condition has

drastically changed to get better.

As the result, their hard work and persistence is

now paid as they can feel it in their lives now.

According to the interview, almost all of TKWs in

Hongkong have already benefited from their hard

work such as having nice houses, farms, rice fields,

and vehicles. In addition, after returning from

Hongkong, they plan to use the money to open their

own businesses.

Retno, a TKW from Ngawi, is a picture of one of

successful TKWs. Before going to Hongkong, she

did not own farms, rice fields, and vehicles. But

after three years of working, she is able to purchase

rice fields and farms, buy a motorcycle and renovate

her parents’ home. “My life used to be very simple. I

was unemployed, so I helped my parents to work in

the rice fields or clean the house. But after getting a

chance to work overseas as a TKW, my economic

condition has begun to improve day by day. In the

end, I could enjoy what I have earned after four

years of work.”

TKWs have given significant contribution in

terms of daily needs to their family, husbands,

children, and parents. In addition, they also brings a

positive impact on the society.

Economically, the TKWs family seems to cover

all of their needs because they have one of the

member working as a TKW. In addition, they

always receive some amount of money which is

transferred through a bank or other transferring

services. In the process, their lives can also be seen

from the houses they have built, vehicles the

possess, or businesses they run. Simply saying, they

have experienced a very drastic change. In the

beginning, their houses were very simple or they did

not even have homes. However, after working in

Hongkong, they can build houses as they wish and

own motorcycles and a variety of facilities.

Another indication of economic changes of the

TKW’s family in the region is the increase of

purchasing power by the TKW’s family, not only on

the primary and secondary needs, but also the

tertiary needs, and often it leads them to consumtive

behaviors. Although most people think it is not good

behavior, but in general it can be tolerated

considering that the TKWs have wandered too long

and have not met their family, relatives, and

neighbors. Therefore, the money they send to their

families each month in which it is used to buy goods

or renovate their house becomes a "redeemer" to the

time and distance that separate them. In other words,

their existence in the family and society is

represented by the appearance of nice house and cars

which in turn becomes a symbol of their hard-

working and success working as TKWs overseas.

Essentially, they want to show the results of their

hard work to their families and make them happy.

Supiani, for instance, has got nice house which

consists of three buildings, including the front, back,

and side building. The house is a Javanese house

dominated by teak woods with a 16 cm main home

pole. In addition, the home yard is quite wide and is

used by local residents as a area to practice Setia

Hati martial arts. Unlike most residents in

Kwadungan Ngawi, her family members are not

only farm labors, but they also own large

agricultural land with a three time a year harvest. In

the land, cassavas, maizes, bananas, and other plants

are farmed.

The above results are achieved by her hard work

as a TKW. Prior to working in Hongkong, she had

ever become a TKW in Singapore for two years. She

has moved to Hongkong and has worked there for

three years. "I send all the money I get from work as

a TKW to my parents because I am still single and

do not have my own family. The money is then

invested by purchasing rice fields and farms

including palm oil plantations in Sumatra". Her

parents hope, after reaching her success, she soon

meets her soulmate, gets married, and then returns

home, living with her family.

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3. TKWs as the Primary Breadwinners

The responsibilities in the family are a manifestation

of awareness to rights and duties in which every

member of the family has different rights and duties.

The difference is adjusted according to their status

and role. A husband, for instance, is entitled to get

services from his wife both biological and social

services, but he is obliged to provide a living for his

family. Similarly, a wife is entitled to get a living

from her husband, but she is obliged to take care of

the household.

a. The Involvement of Women as the

Breadwinners

Biologically, the tasks within the family are devided

according to physical conditions; men are stronger

than women. Therefore, husbands usually get harder

tasks which require considerable power. In the

meantime, women do domestic chores such as

taking care of children, sweeping and cleaning the

house, washing clothes and so on. To this end, it is

often said that men are more public oriented while

women are more domestic oriented.

It is common among the society that men should

go out and work hard to earn aliving, whereas

women become wives and mothers in the family.

Due to the life demands and employment

opportunities that require wives to make a living, the

roles undertaken by the wives become the

responsibility of the husbands and likewise.

Consequently, the care for the family seems to be

incomplete.

Basically, the difficulty experienced by a

husband to meet his family income is not because he

is lazy to work, but mostly because access to

employment opportunities or economic

opportunities is rare. This is known as structural

poverty which is suffered by a group of society

because they cannot use the sources of income

which are actually available to them. The structural

poverty includes lack of settlement, education,

communication, and facilities to develop business

and obtain employment opportunities, and the lack

of legal protection.

In order to meet the life needs, many parents

work as farmers, labours, or construction workers.

Many women, especially wives, finally join to seek

other alternatives to meet the needs of the family.

One alternative that many take is working as a TKW

overseas.

According to Sumar, a TKW from Semarang,

she explained, "During an emergency, when my

husband is unable to work such as getting sick or

experiencing other obstacles that cause him to be

incompetent to produce a living for the family, I can

contribute some money by working as a TKW to

support the family income, or to save some money

to start the family business."

b. Women's Perspective Concerning Their Role

as the Primary Breadwinners

Siti Maimunah assumes that her husband is

responsible for the household because he is the head

of the family, although she offers much help by

becoming the backbone of the family economy.

According to Siti Maimunah, her relationship with

her employer is relatively good eventhough she feels

tired due to a lot of work that she must finish each

day .

The same thing happens to Aini. After her leave

has expired, she plans to continue working as a

TKW in her old employer. According to her, the

employer only allows her to take laeves, not

terminate the employment. Basically, her

relationship with the employer in Hongkong is quite

good. All rights are fully granted by the employer

such as rights to have holidays, to obtain wages or to

take leaves. She plans to go if her husband allows

her to leave him and her child in order to meet the

economic demands of the family.

Indeed, ideally after the marriage, a husband is

in charge of dealing with the family income and

meeting all the family needs and other operational

costs. In addition, he should be able to become the

leader in the family who is assigned not only to

educate the family but also play significant role on

taking important decisions in the family.

However, in certain cases where a husband is

unable to seek and meet the family income, he

should let his wife, if she is willing to help, meet the

family needs by finding a job outside the home,

including becoming a TKW overseas. Indeed, it is

risky when she is away from home, especially if she

has school age children in which she is supposed to

educate, supervise and accompany. consequently,

she cannot complete such tasks.

In one side, the husband should tolerate this

condition. However, in another side, the wife should

not—in such condition—assume that the

responsibility to educate children disappears. The

wife who decides to work as a TKW overseas should

still feel responsible for controlling and supervising

her children from far. In a situation where she can

earn income and her husband is helpless and could

not make a living for the family, she must remain

conscious of herself as a woman and a wife who

needs to respect and obey her husband. On the

contrary, she should not act arbitrarily and show

disrespect. In dealing with the important decisions

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related to the family, he has to become the leader

who is ready to make the right decision.

"In my opinion, during an emergency, when the

husband is unable to work such as getting sick or

experiencing other obstacles that cause him to be

incompetent to produce a living for the family, his

wife who works as a TKW can contribute some

money to support the family income, or to save

some money to start the family business. In the end,

If she can independently manage her economic and

social activity, she should not be worried about what

happens to the family when her husband passed

away or she gets divorced."

Similarly, Novi as a young TKW also thinks that

after getting married, a husband must play role as

the family breadwinner and be responsible for

meeting all the family needs and operational costs.

In addition, he should be able to become a leader in

the family. He is not assigned to educate his family,

but also play important role in making decision in

the family. Her mother hopes, after successfully

working overseas and having a lot of savings, Novi

immediately gets married and then returns home to

live with her family.

However, if a husband is unable to make a living

for the family, a wife should voluntarily help to meet

the family needs by finding a job outside the home.

Consequently, the husband is fully responsible for

educating, supervising and accompanying their

children to learn, whereas the wife only helps as she

can. However, she should not consider that her

responsibility to educate her children fades away.

She is held accountable for controlling and

supervising their children as she could from far.

Additionally, although he is unable to make a living

for the family, she should remain obedient and show

respect to her husband. In dealing with important

decisions concerning the family, he remains

becoming the leader of the family. She said, "A

husband is responsible for dealing with the family

income and meeting all the family needs of children

and operational costs. In the same way, he also

becomes the family leader who is assigned to

educate the family, and play significant role in

making important decision.

According to Dila, her husband is unable to earn

the family income, and he allows her to help meet

the family needs by working as a TKW overseas.

Consequently, she may not be responsible for

educating, supervising and accompanying their

children to learn. Fortunately, he understands such

condition, and in the process she is able to control

and supervise the children from far by intensely

communicating on the phone. "Although I have my

own income and my husband is unable to make a

living for the family, I, as a wife, remain obedient,

show respect, and appreciate my husband. In

practice, he remain becoming the decision maker

concerning the family matters after some negotiation

or discussion.”

The above descriptions regarding the TKWs

perspectives show how significant their role is in

meeting the family needs. In other words, their role

as economy actor greatly contributes to their

families and households as they can make a living or

big wealth and even double the income earned by

her husbands. The aspect of contribution in this

economy is also in line with their role in the aspect

of controlling or decision-making. This shows that

they have an important position to take part in

family's decision.

In addition, it also indicates that the contribution

of women in terms of the family income positively

affects their position in the family, especially in

making decision. Further, it could also improve the

status and role of TKWs in the family life which

depends on the socio-economic condition of the

household. Suffice to say, the household needs

become a major factor that causes women to work

outside the home.

In other words, the shift of the role of women in

earning the family income makes them more

appreciated and respected. In this regard, the cultural

values applied in society and the understanding on

religious values or teachings among them should

compromise their role and position.

Social and cultural barriers binding that women

are not allowed to work outside the home and leave

their village is no longer valid among rural

communities. In fact, the number of migrant women

is higher than that of male migrants. As the result,

the view on the role of women in the village where

they come from after they work as TKWs overseas

has now changed. Before the widespread of

phenomenon regarding women working as TKWs,

local people usually place them in the domestic

sector and they even occasionally help their

husbands work in rice fields or farms. However, in

the last two decades, with the increasing number of

people who have worked as TKWs and have

returned home, a shifting has occurred and the old

view has been no more popular although it is not the

main cause of the changing of the view, but it has

contributed to the change.

In conclusion, women play role in earning the

family income and their contribution to the

household is generated through productive activities

that they acquire by working as TKWs overseas. In

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1469

the end, their participation in public sector as

breadwinners will increase their contribution to their

households. Nevertheless, they keep respecting and

understanding men as the leaders responsible for the

family.

4. The Pattern of Task Division in the

Household

The factors that cause a woman to play role as a

breadwinner in the family among TKWs in

Hongkong occur for several reasons, such as

financial issues, encouragement from the family, and

desire to get experience. Basically, the family's

opinion concerning the role of wife as the

breadwinner implies that they willingly allow her to

earn a living overseas in order to meet the family

needs and to solve the financial issues such as

paying debts and alike.

In addition to the changes in the structural and social

functions, social impacts in terms of the pattern of

tasks division in the household have also happened.

Some statements of the TKWs and their families

have shown that such pattern has changed when one

of family members, a daughter or wife, works as a

TKW. In general, the change is unavoidable

considering that the father or the husband as the

head of the family could not fulfill his tasks, roles

and functions. The wife or daughter eventually

becomes the breadwinner in the family instead. At

last, the tasks which are routinely undergone by the

father or husband are now distributed to other family

members after the wife or daughter decides to work

as a TKW in Hongkong.

a. The Shifting Role

Generally, the risks faced by the working wives

cause them neglect their tasks in the family, exhaust

their energy and thoughts, and confuse them with

conflict of role of women as housewives and

workers.

By working as TKWs overseas for a certain

period of time, the physical presence or the figure of

a mother does not exist at home. Consequently, the

duties in terms of domestic affairs such as taking

care of children which should be performed by a

wife are taken over by a husband. In addition, the

duties of a woman as a wife for her husband and a

mother for her children cannot run properly. In fact,

as we know, a mother plays more significant role in

parenting than a father. The task of educating and

caring for children are the duties of a wife. In this

case a father takes over the responsibility of

parenting.

The attitude of a child's dependence on his/her

mother is formed because she is a more sensitive

compared to a father in responding to his/her states

such as crying or being happy, angry and spoiled. In

fact, such states are important expressions in

parenting and she can make him/her safe and secure.

This is in line with the idea that a mother is the first

and the main person who ties the inner and

emotional bond with the child. In other words, her

role in building the child's personality is considered

as the most important role exceeding another role.

For most people in Indonesia, the idea of men

doing household chores is considered taboo because

most of them are generally reluctant to do household

chores and their work is not clean or tidy enough. In

terms of parenting, they are less sensitive in

understanding their child.

In turn, the issue which then arises is the

shifting of the function and role of members in the

family, in which a mother cannot supervise and pay

attention to her children at any time while they and

their fathers are always in need of her affection. In

practice, a mother as a parent has a primary task of

arranging the household life and plays an important

role in teaching children to understand the prevailing

values in order to build their personality as the

qualified young generation. Consequently, she

cannot perform the responsibility properly.

However, in practice the above issue can be

overcome by giving understanding to the family. In

this regard, attention and long distance

communication with a mother who works as a TKW

becomes an important thing to do to carry out her

tasks and roles in the household, even with the

shifting of the tasks and roles among husbands and

wives.

Dila, for instance, works as a TKW in

Hongkong in order to reach the family targets and

she has compromised it with her husband. One of

the targets is to pay off their debt. In addition, they

also need to collect some amount of money to use as

capital for their business in the village after the

completion of her contract in Hongkong. For this

reason, they are willing to separate to achieve their

targets. Fortunately, during the last four years, their

family’s burden has seemed to start lowering as the

debt is paid and their children have started to be

independent. "This time, my children attend Islamic

boarding school (pesantren), so my husband is not

so busy with them and he can focus on his work.

Essentially, what I earn from my work here is not to

spoil my husband, but it is to meet the basic needs of

family life, such as paying debts and collecting

money to start our business."

Currently, she has got a wide farm and rice

field. Usually, the money that she gets from her

work as a TKW is transferred to her husband in the

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village. In turn, the money is used to renovate the

house, buy farms, purchase means of transport (2

motorcycles), pay their two children educational fees

in the Islamic boarding school, and cover her

husband needs (Dila’s Husband). Meanwhile, he

works as he can while farming in the rice field

although his income cannot cover the family needs.

Dila admits that she does not aim her presence

in Hongkong as a TKW to be the backbone of her

family, but as an alternative to meet the family

needs.

"This is my way. This is a personal decision and

I am not invited or approached by an agent. Luckily,

my relatives also support to help me to work as a

TKW in Hongkong. Our life is very simple. Initially,

we lived in my parent-in-law's. Since I worked in

Hongkong, all household needs such as cooking for

the children are taken care of by her. But after she

died, my husband has taken over.”

Unlike Dila, at first Maryati faced a difficult

choice to work as a TKW overseas. Her husband, for

instance, was only a labor in the rice fields and

farms owned by her neighbours, while she was only

as a housewife with one son. In addition, her

family's income was not enough to meet the

everyday's needs. "In the meantime, I still have to

pay my child's educational fees. This condition

makes me think to work to help my husband."

(Maryati, 2015).

In the end, her friends and relatives who have

worked overseas as TKWs encouraged her to do the

same thing. After getting permission from her

husband and family, she prepared all required

documents to work as a TKW immediately. On the

day of departure, with a heavy heart she was forced

to leave her family and she asked her parents to take

care of her child in the village.

Within six years of working in Hongkong, she

has fianlly enjoyed the results of her hard work.

Basically, she sends some amount of her salary to

her family and save some for the future. As the

result, she is able to meet all the household needs

including financing her children educational fees,

renovating her house, and helping her husband's to

start a business. She is even ready to return home

whenever her husband asks as she is so determined

to immediately gather with her family and start a

new business in her hometown.

With experience and salary she gets by working

in Hongkong, Maryati has been ready to return to

Indonesia and open her own business to help her

husband support the family. In addition, she also

expects that the results of her efforts are blessed and

beneficial for her and her family in the future. "My

husband has told me that the family of a TKW

should always be careful in managing the family's

financial affairs as the income earned by working

overseas does not last forever."

According to the statements from the TKWs,

working in Hongkong is the most correct choice in

order to cope with economic problems in the

household, especially for those who do not have

special skills, high educational qualification, or

capital to start business. However, the decision to

work as TKWs does bring risks to married couples

or even the children.

In addition, the above circumstance also causes a

wife or a woman unable to carry out her duties as a

wife. Essentially, it is not considered as an

exaggerated opinion considering that, at the same

time, a husband cannot meet the household needs

properly.

Consequently, Dila and her husband should be

able to divide their roles and even switch roles in

running the household life. She, for example, goes

working overseas to support the family, while her

husband educates as well as takes care of their

children and manages the fund sent by his wife as

the breadwinner. In another sense, he must be

willing to replace her taking care of their children

and household chores and she would work hard as a

TKW to achieve their dream. Almost every day she

and her husband intensely communicate with each

other—by phone, sms or social media—to ask each's

condition, share information, and discuss as well as

find solutions when they encounter problems in the

family.

In this case, the ability to communicate and to

pay attention to each other, and to trust each other is

a fundamental principle in maintaining a harmonious

relationship between husbands and wives who have

been separated for a long time, as experienced by

Dila.

A wife who works as a TKW overseas should

keep in touch with the family in the village,

especially with her children. The can communicate

by phone, facebook, and other means of

communication. "According to me, despite separated

by distance and communication by phone, a husband

and a wife can share tasks, build mutual trust and

motivate each other to maintain transparency in

managing the assets of the wife which are sent to her

husband." Expected Alin.

"We all work together. In the sense, if, for

instance, my husband is unable to work, I would

assist and help him. In the past, I often went to the

rice fields to help my husband's work such as

planting and lifting rice or vegetables and alike".

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1471

Furthermore, she added, "Similarly, my husband

also helps me do the domestic chores such as

sweeping, washing, drying clothes and so on."

It means that wives who work as TKWs overseas

should stay in touch with their family in the village,

especially with children, by telephone and other

means of communication. "To me, a husband and a

wife can share tasks, build mutual trust and motivate

each other to maintain transparency in managing the

assets of the wife that is sent to him although they

only communicate by phone."

Similarly, in terms of educating children. Indeed,

a mother who works as a TKW cannot directly

supervise or observe the development of her

children. However, she should at least be able to

recognize their character and activities through her

husband and other family. This indicates how

important communication is. In this regard, means of

communication such as phone, sms, or social media,

can be used as ways of giving attention and

monitoring the development of children despite the

distance and time.

b. Keeping Harmony in the Household

The long duration of work and the lack of

communication with the family are some factors that

slightly hinder the TKWs social relationships with

the families. Here, their families live far away, so in

the process they are getting closer to their friends

during the work. To that end, social relationships

should be maintained, especially with families

because they have protected them since childhood.

Besides building relationship with the families and

friends, the social relationship with the surrounding

environment is also needed to strengthen, such as the

social relationship between the TKWs and the

environment where they come from and they come

back to. In addition, they need to understand how the

social relations that occur between them change.

A type of communication through technological

means can also be used by a husband and a wife to

establish bond of affection and maintain the

harmony in family. "We always communicate each

day by phone or sms or on Facebook. We exchange

information and share our respective activities

raging from what we do, where we go, with whom

we go, and so forth. Usually, when I travel, I am

always with friends. I introduce them to my

husband, so there would be no suspicion. Simply

saying, we are always open to each other and we

maintain mutual trust. To meet the biological needs,

we trust each other. As often as possible we do

fasting or do a lot of activities, so that the desire and

lust can be transferred to positive things. The point

is, we should not betray our couple or violate the

provisions of the religion."

In practice, almost every day the TKWs in

Hongkong communicate with their families;

husbands, children, and parents. Typically, they

share information concerning their respective state.

This is what makes them more appreciated and their

families miss them. In addition, they routinely send

some amount of their monthly salary and report their

expenditures while working in Hongkong. Wisely to

say, they have a strong religious and philosophical

foundation in maintaining long distance relationship.

They remain keeping their principles; that

husbands are the head of the family and they need to

respect them. In addition, their departure to

Hongkong to work as TKWs is not to guarantee the

family income or replace their husband's

responsibility. Although their income is far higher

than their husbands', they keep considering it as a

help to their husbands to meet the family needs. This

is according to Dila:

"Basically, I work here to help my husband and

ease his burden as the head of family, not to replace

his roles and responsibilities for covering the family

needs. However, that does not mean he can entirely

rely on me to fulfill the needs. He should still be

responsible for them."

During her time working as a TKW, Dila and

her husband have always maintained their

communicate concerning their own states and have

share their problems and needs. Additionally, they

have also voluntarily and lovingly changed their

roles. They have done that to establish harmonious

relations in their household. Sri Atun, Maryati, and

Alin also claim that their relationship with their

husbands run very well. Whatever the problems are,

they always share and talk to each other.

Actually, being a TKW is not their choice of

life. It means after they have improved the economic

condition in their family, they will stop working as

TKWs and decide to return home and build a

harmonious life with their husbands. Most of TKWs

admit that the relationship with their husbands run

very well. Not even once do they have issues that

interupt the harmony in their family.

As the results, the study shows that the nature of

women as wives and housewives who play their role

in the domestic sector has shifted. Initially, most of

them act as wives and housewives who take care of

the domestic needs. However, due to several factors,

they have work outside the home and have

eventually entered public sector as workers and

breadwinners. The TKWs, for instance, even

become the main breadwinners in the household,

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who show significant contributions to their family

needs.

In fact, according to the Law concerning

Marriage and KHI (Kompilasi Hukum Islam/ Islamic

Legal Compilation), husbands are the breadwinners

and are obliged to meet the family needs. However,

because of the difficulty in making a living, many

wives are willing to go out of the home and even go

overseas to earn the living. In the same way, they are

also willing to stay apart from their husbands and

children in order to meet the needs as their husbands

are unable to do.

Thus, when no one is willing to guarantee the

needs in the family, by nature a woman is more

likely to work for a living to help and is even ready

to bear the family needs. Similarly, when a husband

is unable to meet the basic needs of the household, a

wife plays an important role in earning a living or

dealing with the financial issues in the household.

5 CONCLUSION

The involvement of women in public sector, such as

being TKWs to make a living, is actually not a new

thing in Indonesian society’s. Their involvement in

helping earn a living is hereditary tradition that has

occurred in an agrarian society for a long time. It

means if a husband is not able to meet the needs of

the family, a wife is then courageously willing to

participate in helping her husband or parents in the

family earn a living.

This study proves that TKWs in Hongkong,

especially those who have a family, are basically

aware that they are wives or mothers in the family.

As wives, for instance, they work to help their

husbands in making a living. In the process,

although their income is generally much higher than

their husband, they do not necessarily feel that they

are the backbones of the family. Additionally, they

also do not position themselves as heads of

household. They keep placing themselves as wives

who keep respecting their husbands and perform

their duties as wives. Further, they also still put their

husbands as the heads of the household who must be

responsible for earning income and making decision

in the family.

The phenomenon regarding the involvement of

TKWs as the breadwinners shows that they have the

same rights and role in helping ease the burden of

the family. Here, they are placed equal with men

(husbands) in public sector. Therefore, the

dominance of men in the family in making decision

has now faded away from their everyday’s life

because the economic base of women migrant

workers (TKW) becomes a reference to negotiate

gender relations in the family.

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