Empower Women with Sustainable Livelihood

On 27–28 September 2025, INFEST Yogyakarta conducted a Migration Management Training for Prospective Migrant Workers and Their Families in Ponorogo. The training aimed to strengthen participants’ understanding of safe migration, family-based migration planning, and household financial management.

The training was attended by 20 participants, consisting of prospective migrant workers and their family members, with a majority of female participants. The activity was opened by Anny Hidayati, INFEST’s local officer, who emphasized the importance of using the training as a foundation for realizing safe, well-prepared, and family-supported migration.

Most of the prospective migrant workers participating in the training had previous or planned migration experience in the domestic work sector, particularly in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore. The two-day training was structured into several participatory sessions that combined information-sharing, discussion, and practical exercises.

On the first day, participants learned about labor migration regulations in Indonesia, destination country contexts, the rights and obligations of migrant workers, complaint and protection mechanisms, and the social and economic impacts of migration on families. These sessions encouraged participants to reflect on migration not only as an individual decision, but as a process that affects the entire household.

On the second day, the focus shifted to family communication and financial management planning. Participants discussed the importance of maintaining regular communication between migrant workers and family members left behind, as well as strategies for managing remittances responsibly. Participants were introduced to basic financial literacy concepts, including budgeting, saving, and planning for long-term household needs. At the end of the training, participants completed a migration planning agreement form, jointly developed with their family representatives, to outline their migration goals, financial plans, and family responsibilities. 

The training was conducted in an active and participatory manner, with participants engaging openly in discussions and exercises. Based on participant feedback and pre- and post-test results, the training contributed to increased awareness and understanding of safe migration principles, as well as the importance of preparation at the family level. Participants reported gaining new knowledge about migration risks, rights, and the steps required to plan migration more carefully and responsibly.

One of the main challenges identified during the activity was the varying levels of prior knowledge and experience among participants, particularly related to financial literacy and formal migration procedures. This highlighted the need for continued learning and follow-up support.

As a follow-up, INFEST plans to organize additional financial literacy training in mid-October 2025, further strengthening participants’ skills in household financial management and supporting the implementation of the migration plans developed during the training.

Overall, the activity was assessed by participants as very useful and represented an important step toward strengthening family-based migration planning and financial preparedness among prospective migrant workers in Ponorogo.