Session Name: “Reintegrations” of Indonesian migrant workers to Japan and Taiwan: Diverse flows of sending and receiving migrants
3 - Becoming a Hub in Japan: Establishment of Social Capital by Former Technical Intern Trainee
Monday, July 29, 2024
09:00 – 10:45 (GMT+7)
Presentation Abstract Officially, Japan has not adopted an immigration policy. Although a large number of migrants are employed as “workers” in reality, limited-time migration is planned for unskilled work. Therefore, migrant workers in Japan inevitably migrate under the assumption of returning home. This is best exemplified by the technical intern trainee (TIT) discussed in this presentation. Previous studies have discussed the reintegration of migrants in terms of network construction and resource mobilization prior to return and negotiations within the destination community, thus highlighting the importance of focusing on the preparatory stage before returning home. This presentation focuses on the role of former TIT who move out of the migration cycle of the return premise by obtaining a spouse in Japan, and by setting up TIT receiving agent company, become the hub of the Indonesian migrant workers’ community and provide resources after their return. Through interviews and participatory observation, this study reveals how becoming the migrant network’s hub provides resources to solve various problems faced by apprentices in Japanese society, where they are not recognized as “workers.” This network also stimulates TIT’s motivation and preparation for returning home.
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