Monday 6th November 2011
RURAL/URBAN
Humanities 9.2
M I G R A T I O N in J A K A R T A
Monica Madelaine Santa
Academic Research Paper Sinarmas World Academy November 2011
ABSTRACT This study investigates the push and pull factors that may have influenced the movement of people from rural to urban areas in Indonesia. Non-random sampling was used to interview 10 respondents, all of which were domestic workers (e.g. maid, nanny, driver), using a Likert scale questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were females between an age range of 16 and 21. Most of the respondents have lived in Jakarta for 1 to 3 years. The principal results of the study reveal that most of the respondents left their hometown to move to the city in search of a better life, more job opportunities and higher wages. Keywords: rural-urban migration, push/pull factors
INTRODUCTION Rural-urban migration is the movement of people from the countryside to the city. In 2006, historian Mike Davis noted an approaching milestone in our urbanizing world:
“Sometime in the next year or two, a woman will give birth in the Lagos
slum of Ajegunle, a young man will flee his village in west Java for the
bright lights of Jakarta, or a farmer will move his impoverished family
to one of Lima’s innumerable slums.”
Since 2007, an estimated 50% of the world’s global population are now living in cities. Over the next 25 years, the urban populations of Africa and Asia are expected to double as people continue to move to cities in search of work and opportunity (O’Leary). Rural-urban migration and urbanization is mostly happening in LEDC (less economically developed countries) where people are most vulnerable. With a population of over 10 million people, Jakarta is the third most populated city in Asia (National Geographic). Jabodetabek, the official term given to the urban regions of Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi is considered to be the second most populated “city” in the world. The population of Jabodetabek according to the 2010 Indonesian Census is 28 million (Jabodetabek).
According to the World Health Organization, as of 2009, 43% of Indonesia’s citizens are situated in urban areas and the numbers are expected to rise to 60% by the year 2025 (The Jakarta Post). As long as urbanization continues to happen, we are also at risk of overpopulation. Overpopulation is when the increase of human growth exceeds the capacity of a city or country to accommodate everyone (Bernard). More natural resources are wasted, food become scarce and less jobs become available. The rapid growth of cities like Jakarta can be attributed to the increasing numbers of migrants from rural areas in Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Rural-urban migration in Indonesia, as well as in many other LEDCs is happening because of many push and pull factors. Push factors are factors that encourage a migrant to leave his place of residence. They are perceived by migrants as detrimental to their well-being or economic security (Urbanization). Push factors include natural disasters, lack of job opportunities, inadequate education, poverty, war or religious persecution. A pull factor is a factor that attracts a migrant to move to a certain place. For example, a farmer in Sumatra whose land has become unproductive because of drought (push factor) may decide to move to Jakarta because he believes there are more job opportunities and possibilities for a better lifestyle (pull factor). In general, cities are perceived as places where people can have a better life because of better opportunities, higher salaries, better services, better lifestyles and freedom from religious persecution. These perceived “better” conditions attract poor people from rural areas to come to the city, thus causing ruralurban migration.
METHODOLOGY We researched background information about rural-urban migration through using sources from the internet. We chose reliable sources such as university papers from the internet because they were more likely to provide unbiased data and were written by people who have more experience in the rural-urban migration field. Other sources such as the World’s Scholar’s Cup: Modern Metropolis resource was also used because of it’s unbiased perspective as an educational guide for an academic competition. This source was reliable because it too contained many references to published works from people who are experts in the field of rural-urban migration.
Secondary data was also collected from the internet from valid sites like Wikipedia, National Geographic and other websites. As a class, we then developed the skills to create a questionnaire. We decided to ask mostly closed questions because it would be easier for our domestic workers to understand it. We also decided ot use a likert scale to scale the importance of a push or pull factor. Primary data was collected from individuals who were able to translate the questionnaire from English to Bahasa Indonesia and present it to their domestic workers. In total, there were 10 respondents, nearly all of which were female maids between the age of 16 and 21. The sample size itself was not enough to conclude that a certain push or pull factor is the most significant but it did show that some factors were more significant than others. The sampling technique used in this investigation was non-random. We specifically targeted domestic help in our household mainly because it was easier and more efficient. Some of the advantages of non-random sampling was that it was easier to collect the data since we were already familiar with the respondents. It was less time consuming and did not require us to go out on the streets and interview strangers which might potentially be dangerous if you are in Jakarta. However, some of the disadvantages was that we received unreliable and biased data because the results we received only consisted of 10 domestic workers in our household. The sample was too small and too selective, thus it cannot truly give us accurate data. We also faced other problems that may affect the results of the data we collected. Some of the difficulties we had during the interview process was translating the questionnaire. As the questionnaire was in English, it was difficult to explain the concept of a Likert scale to the respondents. This may affect the results if the respondents misunderstood a question or a statement. The research method is unreliable because not only did we collect only a small sample amount but the respondents were not selected at random. This affects the results because the sampling techniques are more biased than neutral. Selecting a minimum of 50 respondents at random would give us more insight on the push/pull factors that cause people to migrate.
DATA ANALYSIS
Gender of Domestic Workers in Jakarta
Male
Female
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
The pie chart shows the percentage of male and female domestic workers who have migrated from certain parts of Indonesia to Jakarta. It shows a very significant percentage of the respondents are female. In fact, 90% of the respondents were female whilst only 10% of the respondents were male.
This pie chart (right) shows the percentage of the age Age of Domestic Workers in Jakarta groups of the respondents. It shows that a significant percentage of domestic workers in Jakarta are between 16
20%
to 21 years old. 40% of the respondents were between a
10%
16 to 21 year old age range.
10% 40% 20%
Under 16
16 - 21
31 - 40
41+
22 - 30
Length Lived in Jakarta of Domestic Workers 50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0% Less than a year
1-3
4-6
7+
The graph (above) shows that a significant number of respondents have lived in Jakarta for around 1 to 3 years. According to the graph, 50% of the respondents have lived in Jakarta for 1 to 3 years now.
Occupations of Domestic Workers in Jakarta
Hometowns of Domestic Workers in Jakarta
10%
30% 50%
90%
20%
This graph (left above) shows the occupations of domestic workers in Jakarta. According to the graph, a very significant percentage of the respondents work as maids. 90% of the respondents were household maids.
The graph (right above) shows that a substantial number of domestic workers in Jakarta have migrated from Central Java to Jakarta. 50% of the respondents have migrated from Central Java to Jakarta.
PUSH FACTORS
1
Not enough jobs
2 This chart shows the significance of not enough
3 4
10%
jobs in rural areas. A significant percentage of respondents said that not enough jobs was an
50%
important factor. 50% of the respondents felt that
40%
the lack of jobs in rural areas is what made them leave their hometown.
1
Poor medical healthcare
2
3 4
medical healthcare in rural areas. It shows that a
10%
very small percentage of the respondents claimed
40%
20%
This chart shows the significance of poor
poor medical healthcare was an important factor. Only 10% of the respondents felt that poor medical healthcare was one of the main reasons
30%
they left their hometown.
1
Low wages
2 3
This chart shows the significance of low wage
4
occupations in rural areas. According the chart,
40%
low wages is a very significant factor. 100%
60%
respondents claimed that low wages was a very or extremely important factor in their decision to move.
1
Poverty This chart shows the significance of poverty in
2 3 4
10%
rural areas. A not so significant percentage of
20%
respondents said that poverty was an important factor. 20% of the respondents claim that poverty
30%
was one of the reasons they left their hometown.
40%
PULL FACTORS
1
More job opportunities
2 The chart shows the percentage of people who
3 4
10%
have determined, through a likert scale, the
40%
20%
importance of more job opportunities in Jakarta. A small percentage of the respondents state that more job more opportunities was an important factor. Only 10% of the respondents felt more job
30%
opportunities were an important factor in bringing them to Jakarta. I find that the results of the data collected is odd because in the push factors, 50% of the respondents stated that they left because of not enough jobs, but only 10% admit more job opportunities is why they moved to the city.
1
Better medical healthcare
2 The chart shows the percentage of people who
3 4
have determined, through a likert scale, the
20%
importance of better medical healthcare in Jakarta.
50% 20%
A significant amount of the interviewees believe that better medical healthcare was not an
10%
important factor. Only 10% of the respondents claimed better medical healthcare was an important factor in bringing them to Jakarta.
1
Better living conditions
2
The chart shows the percentage of people who
3 4
have determined, through a likert scale, the
30%
importance of better living conditions in Jakarta. A significant percentage of respondents stated that
50%
better living conditions was an extremely
20%
important factor in bringing them to Jakarta. 50% of he respondents admit that one of the main reasons they came to Jakarta was because they
wanted to find better living conditions.
1
Higher wages
2 3
The chart shows the percentage of people who
4
have determined, through a likert scale, the importance of higher wages in Jakarta. A
50%
50%
significant number of people agree that high wages were either an extremely or very important factor. 50% of the respondents say that higher wages were an extremely important factor in
affecting their decision to move to Jakarta.
CONCLUSION Cities have always been places of promise. Most of the world’s leading companies and universities are based in cities; for those seeking the best possible jobs or the most prestigious possible education, there is no better place to
be. Across the world, cities continue to represent an escape from the more limited possibilities of traditional towns and villages—and a chance at a new and better life. From the data collected, it is clear that the two most important factors in causing people to leave their village or hometown is the lack of jobs and low wages. The significant pull factors that have influenced the people to come to the city are better living conditions and jobs that pay higher wages. However, these results cannot speak for every migrant in Indonesia as the sample size is too small. We cannot assume that the data collected applies to every migrant in Jakarta. The sample itself is biased because it only reflects the opinions of 10 respondents, nearly all of which are our own maids. Despite the limitations, the data is still quite reliable because it can be confirmed by published works from universities and respectable media corporations like BBC and CNN. Sources like the University of Michigan’s Global Change Program have discovered that although international migration is rapidly increasing, rural-urban migration is still the most significant. Most people from rural areas believe that cities offer financial security and better living facilitations, which is essentially what we discovered through our investigation. All in all, although the data we collected is not conclusive because of the research method, it does not mean the data is wrong. The results are supported by other reliable sources and it is actually quite accurate. We have learnt from this rural-urban migration analysis that factors like more job opportunities and better living conditions are important to the domestic migrants in Indonesia and can provide some insight on rural-urban migration for further research.
REFERENCES Bernard, Gilland. "Global Politician - What Is Overpopulation?" Global Politician: News, Interviews, Opinions and Analysis. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.globalpolitician.com/24818-overpopulation>.
"Jabodetabek." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Jabodetabek>.
"Jakarta." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jakarta>. National Geography Megacities - Jakarta. YouTube. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=rNGorwayBFc>.
O'Leary, Alejandra. World's Scholars Cup: Special Area Resource. DemiDec, 2011. PDF.
Resosudarmo, Budy P., Asep Suryahadi, Raden Purnagunawan, Athia Yumna, and Asri Yusrina. "The Socioeconomic and Health Status of Rural–Urban Migrants in Indonesia." Diss. SMERU Research Institute, 2009. Abstract. The Socioeconomic and Health Status of Rural–Urban Migrants in Indonesia. The SMERU Research Institute. Web. 6 Nov. 2011. <http://www.smeru.or.id/report/workpaper/migrantworkers/migrantworkers.pdf>.
"The Jakarta Post | WHO Warns about Urban Migration Risks." The Jakarta Post. 04 June 2011. Web. 06 Nov. 2011. <http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/04/06/who-warns-about-urban-migration-risks.html>.
"Urbanization and Global Change." The Global Change Program. University of Michigan. Web. 02 Nov. 2011. <http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/urban_gc/>.
APPENDIX I. GENDER OF RESPONDENTS
MALE
FEMALE
1
9
AGE OF RESPONDENTS
UNDER 16
16 - 21
22 - 30
31 - 40
40+
1
4
2
1
2
LENGTH LIVED IN JAKARTA
LESS THAN A YEAR
1-3
4-6
7+
1
4
2
1
OCCUPATIONS OF RESPONDENTS
MAID
OTHER
9
1
HOMETOWNS OF RESPONDENTS
CENTRAL JAVA
BANTEN
SUMATRA
5
2
3
APPENDIX II. PUSH FACTORS likert scale (4 represents extreme importance) number of respondents NOT ENOUGH JOBS
1
2
3
4
0
1
4
5
1
2
3
4
4
3
2
1
POOR MEDICAL HEALTHCARE
LOW WAGES
1
2
3
4
0
0
6
4
1
2
3
4
1
3
4
2
POVERTY
APPENDIX III. PULL FACTORS likert scale (4 = extremely important) number of respondents MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES
1
2
3
4
4
3
2
1
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
2
1
2
3
4
0
3
2
5
1
2
3
4
0
0
5
5
BETTER MEDICAL HEALTHCARE
BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS
HIGHER WAGES