Moving to the City for Better Life
Jakarta has no longer become the main destination for people looking for a better life. The magnet for newcomers has also emerged in many other cities in Indonesia such as Surabaya, Depok and Deli Serdang.
Dwi Setiyono (45) was still unable to forget an incident a quarter of a century ago when he left his parents' house in Madiun, East Java, to work and study in East Java's capital, Surabaya. Since then, Surabaya has become the city where he lives and has a family.
Why Surabaya? The answer is simple. The city has become the biggest economic center after the country’s capital city, Jakarta.
"At the age of 25, I graduated from college and was grateful to get a formal job at a private company," Dwi said on Sunday (30/4/2023).
Asked what salary he received from the company, Dwi said it was almost three times the city's minimum wage of Rp 4.25 million (US$295). Wages, benefits and sometimes, overtime, are enough to support two children. "Credit instalments for car and house have been paid off," he said.
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”Job opportunities in Surabaya are still much better than those in Madiun. Apart from that, I think the education and health facilities and social services are the best in East Java," he said.
Dwi's opinion is not much different from that of Fandi MF (27), a man from Klaten, Central Java, who decided to live in Depok city, West Java. Since Monday (1/5/2023), after visiting his hometown for Idul Fitri, Fandi has worked as a barista and laptop or computer mechanic in Depok. He has pursued such a daily life since eight years ago or after graduating from college in the same city.
Fandi does not deny his choice to work in Depok was due to economic factors. The city of Depok is inhabited by many students and workers who create business opportunities for him. Earning Rp 8 million per month, Fandi is confident he can survive in the city. He plans to propose to his girlfriend and buy a house in Depok.
Hundreds of passengers at Pasar Senen Station, Jakarta, Sunday (30/4/2023). From April 24, 2023 until the peak of the second wave of reverse flow, 16,900 passengers got off at Pasar Senen Station. Some of the passengers were new residents who tried their luck in the capital city.
Not only in Java, cities outside Java have also lured many people who want to try their luck outside their hometown.
Sofyan Lubis (29) has been working as an analyst in a feed-ingredients laboratory for almost four years at a feed factory in Tanjung Morawa district, Deli Serdang, North Sumatra. He came from the city of Padang Sidempuan. "I came to Deli Serdang to get a job with a better income," he said on Tuesday (2/5/2023).
Vinsen Simarmata (21), another migrant from Deli Serdang, is currently content to work as a daily worker at a plastic factory in the Medan Industrial Area, Percut Sei Tuan district. He came from North Tapanuli regency after graduating from high school. According to him, in his hometown, he could only be a farm worker. In Deli Serdang, the income as a daily worker is greater and can be used to help families in the village.
Economic Center
Indonesia, which is so vast that it spans a cluster of islands from Sabang to Merauke, does indeed need many economic centers to promote the equal distribution of income for the people. The economic activities in Jakarta, for example, have affected western and central parts of Indonesia. Surabaya, with 3 million people out of 40 million population of East Java, is the second heart of Indonesia, which affects the central to eastern part of this country.
In East Java there are 38 regencies/cities. The megapolitan area of Greater Surabaya (Surabaya, Gresik, Sidoarjo) has contributed to a half of East Java's economy.
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Even though more than half of the manufacturing industry has moved from Surabaya to Sidoarjo, Gresik, Pasuruan, Lamongan, Mojokerto, Jombang and other nearby cities. "Hero City” controls distribution of goods to other parts of the country and the world through the Port of Tanjung Perak. Wages in Surabaya are 2.1 times greater than those in Sampang, Madura. This disparity is so wide that it has become the allure of Surabaya as a destination for migration and urbanization in East Java.
According to the head of the Population and Civil Registration Office for Depok, Nuraeni Widayatti, migration of residents to cities or larger areas is inevitable due to economic, employment, education and other factors.
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As many as 2,600 travelers using the Kelud Motor Boat arrived at the Bandar Deli Passenger Terminal, Belawan Port, Medan, Tuesday (18/4/2023). Sea transportation is the choice of travelers from Batam and Jakarta because fares are more affordable.
It is the same Depok that has also become a destination for migrants from various regions. Many of them work in Jakarta but look for houses in areas closest to the capital, including the city of Depok. There are also job seekers in Depok and university graduates from other areas who choose to settle in this city in search of livelihood.
Based on data for 2022, it was recorded there were 45,132 people moving to Depok. The people living in Depok mostly hold identity cards (KTP) of Central Java, West Java, East Java, Jakarta and other cities.
Deli Serdang is charming for newcomers because of its proximity to the main city, namely Medan.
Similar to Depok, Deli Serdang is charming for newcomers because of its proximity to the main city, namely Medan. In addition, Deli Serdang is in the agglomeration area of Medan, Binjai and Deli.
In Serdang, and Karo (Medindingro), public facilities, such as health and education services, are generally better than those in other regions in North Sumatra.
Close to industrial areas and a lot of business opportunities in line with urbanization in Medindingro, Deli Serdang has become one of the areas with the highest regional minimum wage in North Sumatra, amounting to Rp 3.4 million in 2023, slightly below Rp 3.6 million in Medan.
Don't be unrealistic
Depok Mayor Mohammad Idris said urbanization had become a challenge that must be faced by every region or big city. The government has a double duty to take care of its citizens while still paying attention to immigrants.
The Mayor of Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi, expressed a similar opinion. Surabaya offers a lot of job opportunities considering the existence of at least 10,000 formal businesses and 60,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Although statistically, the opportunity seems so great, naturally there is a process of selection and competition.
However, only those who have education, skills and expertise or competence can take the advantage of the opportunities and earn sufficient wages for a living. "You can no longer try your luck in a city armed only with courage," said Eri.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi
