Poverty, limited access to basic services and a weak labour market are widespread on the island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Consequently, many people are forced to seek employment abroad to support their families. In East Lombok alone, over 24,000 people are employed as migrant workers.
A significant proportion of these migrants do not have the correct documentation, often due to a lack of information about legal requirements and the high costs of official procedures. These irregular migration routes increase the risk of exploitation, violence and other human rights violations. Some migrants return empty-handed, while others lose their lives due to unsafe working conditions abroad.
The existing patriarchal social structure has a particularly severe impact on women and children. When women migrate or girls are left behind, the number of child marriages, school dropouts, and cases of sexual violence increases. Divorces and unstable family situations are also becoming more common.
In response to these developments, ADBMI and AWO International are strengthening migrant communities in East Lombok, improving access to protection and support services, and ensuring that migrant protection and reintegration are incorporated into local development planning.
Taking part in the project's initial activities sparked my sense of community. I could identify with the project's goals of protecting and empowering migrant workers because I had worked abroad myself. It is true that migrant workers are often isolated and rarely mentioned in public discourse. What began as a desire to improve the social and economic conditions of a community close to my heart has evolved into a determination to make better use of existing opportunities.
Nendi Wahyu Imansah, Head of Lembaga Sosial Desa (LSD, Village Social Institution) in the village of Anjani
Goals and plans for the future
Since 2018, the ADBMI Foundation and AWO International have been collaborating to improve support systems for migrant workers in East Lombok. This collaboration has yielded many significant achievements: These include improved access to data on current and potential migrants, the establishment of a dedicated Office for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (previously incorporated into general family planning initiatives), and the provision of long-term support from the relevant village administrations for three of the five community-based groups established in 2018.
Several members of these groups have also taken up permanent roles within the village administrations. This enables them to better represent the interests of migrants and participate in local development processes.
Building on these successes, we have expanded the scope of our current project to include five new villages in East Lombok. The goal is to adopt the proven approaches of the past and build on their successes further.
As part of the project, a local database was developed for migrant workers. The database contains information about the migrants and their families, their residency status and location, their knowledge of managing money transfers, and much more.
As part of the project, community group members are trained to become trainers themselves, teaching topics such as microenterprise development and other key areas.
The project also assists in handling cases and mediating disputes involving migrant workers who have been defrauded, abused, or exploited.
The establishment of an office dedicated to advancing women's rights and protecting children will place greater emphasis on the rehabilitation and reintegration of victims, particularly women and children.
Projectinfo
| Place/Region | East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia—specifically in the following villages: Menceh Village, Borok Toyang Village, MTelaga Waru Village, Kalijaga Timur Village |
|---|---|
| Partner | Migrant CARE https://migrantcare.net/ |
| Activities |
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| Duration | January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026 (partnership since 2018) |
| Budget | 228,000 EUR (3 Jahre) |
| Sponsor | German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
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