Resilience in transition: Experiences of Indonesian migrant workers repatriated from the United Arab Emirates
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26555/humanitas.v23i1.1726Keywords:
Indonesian Migrant Workers, Phenomenology, Repatriation, Resilience, United Arab EmiratesAbstract
Repatriation is often assumed to be a simple process. But in reality, it brings complex psychological, social, and structural challenges. This study aims to explore how Indonesian migrant workers returning from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced and made sense of resilience during their repatriation journey. We conducted a qualitative phenomenological design using in-depth, open-ended semi-structured interviews that allowed participants to narrate their lived experiences. Five male participants who have worked in the energy sector were selected through purposive sampling. The analysis used interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and identified three overlapping aspects of resilience. First, protective foundations including family connections, resource readiness, and transformative development served as buffers that provided initial stability during uncertainty. Second, adaptive processes reflected the ways participants adjusted to reduced income, re-entered the labor market, rebuilt interpersonal relationships, and handled bureaucratic demands. Finally, inner strengths including spiritual beliefs and personal interpretation of resilience helped the returnees sustain in the long term. These findings portray resilience as dynamic, multi-layered, and offer insights to guide reintegration support for returning migrants to their home country
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