ISSN 2039-2117 (online) ISSN 2039-9340 (print) Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences MCSER Publishing, Rome-Italy Vol 6 No 3 S2 May 2015 282 Level of Economic Prosperity, Social Status and Comfortable Living of Migrant Workers in Tulungagung District, Indonesia Budijanto, PhD Faculty of Social Science, State University of Malang, 65145 East Java, Indonesia budijanto19@yahoo.co.id Wan Ibrahim Wan Ahmad, PhD School of Social Development, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia wiwa@uum.edu.my I Komang Astina, PhD Faculty of Social Science, State University of Malang, 65145 East Java, Indonesia k_astina@yahoo.com Doi:10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s2p282 Abstract Indonesia provides a particularly intriguing context for a study of international migration of workforce. Most of the villages in Indonesia have been a sender of labor abroad. Remittance from migrant workers working overseas undoubtedly has a positive impact on socioeconomic development of local community in the country of origin. This research has conducted to get a general picture on the level of value-expectancy of Indonesian migrant workers working overseas, particularly in terms of their economic prosperity, level of comfortable living, as well as social status achieved in community. The research, which is using survey design, has been conducted at Tulungagung district, East Java, Indonesia. To meet this objective, 250 Indonesian migrant workers working overseas which are on their leave at the study area have been chosen for interviews. Results of the study show that remittance inflows have a significant impact on the level of economic prosperity, comfortable living, as well as social status achieved in community. Thus, it is not wrong when the main purpose of doing international migration is to improve the economic condition of the family. Keywords: Remittance; Migration; Value-expectancy; Migrant Workers Introduction 1. Indonesia is a country that has a very large number of populations. According to the latest census, the populations of Indonesia in 2005 were about 232 370 million of people (BPS., 2006). Unemployment and underemployment are critical disturbing the progress of development in Indonesia for decades. Employment creation, particularly in the formal sector is limited to accommodate the availability of labor supply. Those who cannot be absorbed in the formal sector have to work either in the informal sector or doing international migration. 70% of the workforce in Indonesia was estimated to be engaged in informal employment, mostly in the agriculture sector (Firdausy, 2000; Rusman Hariawan, 2011). While it is perceived the informal sector contributes significantly to Indonesia’s economy, particularly in terms of employment, by providing economic opportunities to those displaced from or who cannot be absorbed by the formal sector (Rusman Hariawan, 2011), doing international migration to be migrant workers in the efforts of improving the level of life of the families is still to be an important agenda for rural community in Indonesia. International migration of the workforce has been extensive for decades in Indonesia contributing to continuing development in certain parts of rural areas. Objective of the Study 2. The present paper discusses the level of economic prosperity, social status and comfortable living of migrant workers in Tulungagung district, Indonesia. In particular, it analyzes: (1) level of economic prosperity, (2) level of social status, and (3) level of comfortable living of migrants workers from Tulungfagung district, East Java, Indonesia.