The Existence of Migrants as Farm Workers in The Shift in The Post-

Covid-19 Industrial Landscape in Berastagi Sub-District, Karo Regency

BENGKEL GINTING*, TUTI ATIKA, FEBRUATI TRIMURNI

Faculty of Social Sciences and Political Sciences,

Universitas Sumatera,

Utara, Medan,

INDONESIA

*Corresponding Author

Abstract: - In Karo District, migrants who work as agricultural laborers have more excellent job opportunities

and business opportunities; however, judging from their income conditions, housing conditions, and ability to

send their children to school, they are still classified as poor. The existence of Migrants who work as

agricultural laborers face problems and challenges in changing the industrial landscape after COVID-19. The

marginalization of Farm Workers in Berastagi City is due to the narrower working area. Many landowners sell

them to agro-investors or develop them in a renewable way using technology that replaces labor. Hard work in

it. This article uses qualitative research, a research process, and an understanding based on a methodology

investigating social phenomena and human problems. Research on the study of migrant workers is necessary to

gain a comprehensive understanding of their economic, social, and cultural contributions, as well as the

challenges they face. This knowledge can inform evidence-based policies, promote social justice, improve

healthcare access, and foster inclusive societies that benefit both migrant workers and their host countries. This

article comprehensively reveals the facts in the Berastagi City, Karo Regency field, which is dominated by

agricultural landscapes of vegetables, fruits, and plantations. Three things cause the marginalization of migrant

farm workers in the Berastagi District, namely lack of skills, lack of education, and age which are classified as

elderly. However, the thing that is most affected is the lack of land to be creative or adapt to changes in the

agricultural and industrial landscape.

Key-Words: - Migrant, Farmworker, Shifts Industrial Landscape

Received: May 5, 2023. Revised: July 21, 2023. Accepted: September 16, 2023. Published: October 10, 2023.

1 Introduction

According to the International Organization for

Migration (IOM), migrants reflect the general

understanding of people who move from their place

of residence into a country or across international

borders, temporarily or permanently, and for various

reasons, [1]. The term "migrant" can have different

meanings depending on the context. Migrant

workers have an analysis of the relationship

between the meaning of work and the context of

socialization of labor organizations for the

evaluation of migrant workers, [2]. Meanwhile,

according to the Indonesian Central Bureau of

Statistics, migrants are defined as residents who

have moved their residence across the

village/village boundary within the five years prior

to the survey, which is divided into five types,

namely local urban migrants and out-of-town

migrants, Risen Migrant, Lifetime Migrant, and

Migrant Total, [3]. The following is an explanation

of the types of Migrants in several senses, which are

presented in Table 1.

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Table 1. Types and Definitions of the Migrant Concept

Type

Concept Definition

City Local

Migrants

1. Risen migrant population whose residence five years prior to the survey was still in urban areas,

[3].

2. Transfers that occur within one country, for example between provinces, between districts/cities.

Rural migration to urban areas and/or other administrative units that are lower than the district/city

level such as districts, sub-districts, and so on, [4].

3. The time in which a person is considered a migrant if he or she spends more than a certain amount

of time far from their respective homes, the threshold range is one month, [5], [6]. People who have

been away from home for at least half a year, [7].

Out-of-town

migrants

1. Risen migrant population whose residence five years prior to the survey was still in the city area,

[3].

(a). from urban areas if the village/kelurahan where they lived 5 years ago was classified as an

urban area;

(b). from a rural area if the village/kelurahan where they lived 5 years ago was classified as a rural

area.

Migration from outside the area can have social, economic, and cultural impacts on the origin of

migrants and their families.

Migrant Risen

1. Those who have moved within the last 5 years (starting from 5 years before enumeration). This

information was obtained from questions about where you lived last year and where you live now.

If the two places are different then they are categorized as risen migrants who are also part of the

total migration, but the time is within the last 5 years, [3].

Lifetime

Migrant

1. Lifetime migrants are those who move from their place of birth to their current place of residence

regardless of when they moved. In this theory, migration is obtained from information on place of

birth and current place of residence, if these two statements are different then it includes migration

during life, [3].

2. Lifelong migration refers to the movement of individuals from their place of birth to a different

administrative unit where they currently live, where their area of residence at the time of

enumeration or data collection is different from their place of birth which makes them migrants for

life, [8].

3. "Lifetime" migrations: "Lifetime" migrations are defined by connecting place of birth and place of

residence to a date reference. A "lifetime" migrant is any individual living in an administrative

entity other than the place of birth, [9].

Total Migrant

1. Those who have moved, so their previous residence is different from their present residence. This

information is obtained from the previous residence and current residence. There is a possibility

that the previous place of residence is the same as the place of birth and there is also a possibility

that it is not the same so that lifetime migration is included as total migration, [3].

2. A person's migration history by comparing their previous and current place of residence determines

whether a person has moved from one place to another during their lifetime, [10].

Source: Author Data Processing, 2023

To help examine the study of migrants as farm

laborers, we can look at various previous articles

that show a comparison of the existence of migrants,

especially the shift in the industrial landscape after

COVID-19. Research by, [11], shows that the

agricultural sector was severely affected by the

emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. However,

Craftsmen have not been affected economically by

the pandemic but rather by regulations the central

government has imposed on social distancing,

leading to their inability to transport their products

from one city to another, [12]. The COVID-19

pandemic has caused supply chain disruptions, labor

shortages, and shifts in consumer demand, affecting

the livelihoods of farmers and farm workers

worldwide. The pandemic caused a shift in

consumer behavior, with more people seeking

locally grown and produced food. This has created

opportunities for small-scale farmers and producers,

who may be better positioned to meet this demand

than large-scale industrial operations. The shift in

the post-COVID-19 industrial landscape has

significantly impacted the agricultural industry,

especially farm laborers, [13].

Abidin's Research on National Economic

Recovery During the Covid-19 Pandemic: Analysis

of Labor Productivity in the Agricultural Sector

This article shows that the Covid-19 pandemic has

hurt labor productivity in the agricultural sector,

[14]. In the short term, the distribution of social

assistance to disadvantaged groups can be

prioritized to maintain labor productivity in the

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agricultural sector. In the long term, the additional

allocation of pre-employment cards supports the

productivity of the agricultural workforce through

increased knowledge and skills.

The existence of migrants who work as

agricultural laborers face problems and challenges

in changing the industrial landscape after COVID-

19, such as those faced by farmers in Karo District,

North Sumatra Province. The development of the

agricultural sector in Berastagi, Karo Regency,

especially vegetables and fruits, requires labor for

production and marketing activities. BPS Karo data

for 2018, the agricultural sector's contribution to

GRDP is 61 percent. This raises the demand for

labor to carry out these agricultural activities for

residents and migrants from other areas who are

often referred to as migrant farm laborers. Providing

skilled labor in the agricultural industry is a

challenge in Berastagi District, [15]. The mobility of

labor from the agricultural to the non-agricultural

sector is followed by high urbanization, as indicated

by the high growth of the urban population. Two

factors cause migration, namely, push factors and

pull factors. The economic factor is the dominant

factor causing migration.

The demand for labor is one reason for many

migrants to Karo Regency from other areas, such as

Pakpak, Toba Samosir, Dairi, Nias, and other areas

in North Sumatra, as migrant farm laborers. The

types of work they do in the fields are diverse, as are

the various types of plants. In Karo District,

migrants who work as agricultural laborers have

more excellent job and business opportunities;

however, judging from their income, housing

conditions, and ability to send their children to

school, they are still classified as poor. Various

adaptation patterns for the survival of migrant farm

workers, poor labor farmers have limited economic

and social adaptation strategies, and their focus is on

fulfilling their daily needs, [16].

When compared with previous research The

COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact

on migrant workers, particularly in countries like

India with large populations. The sudden declaration

of lockdowns in many countries has taken a toll on

the mental health of migrant workers, leading to a

significant deterioration of mental health among this

population, [17]. Women migrant workers are

particularly vulnerable to becoming victims of

trafficking and abuse, both while working overseas

and when they return to their villages. In Indonesia,

the government has made efforts to protect migrant

workers, including women, by amending policies

and enacting laws to eradicate trafficking in persons,

[18]. Problems persist, such as the use of brokers

that are detrimental to women migrant workers and

abusive treatment from shelter to placement, [3].

At least a complete picture of the dynamics of

the life of migrant farm workers in the area of

Berastagi District, Karo Regency, in the long run,

will affect sustainable development in Karo

Regency. The limited analysis of data on migrant

farm workers has implications for Karo Regency's

demographic data and impacts the formulation of

poverty alleviation policies and programs. With the

availability of information and data regarding

migrant farm workers, the district government can

obtain several benefits that can assist in mapping,

planning, and formulating policies and programs for

alleviating poverty for migrant workers. So it is

necessary to write articles originating from research

related to the existence of migrants as farm workers

so that a complete picture is obtained of the

dynamics of their lives in the destination area,

which, in turn, in the long term, they are integrated

into the development of Karo.

2 Literature Review

2.1 Existence of Migrants as Farm Workers

A literature review on the health status of migrant

farmworkers was conducted, which highlighted that

estimates of the size of the migrant and seasonal

farmworker population vary widely, [17]. Studies

show that agriculture remains the most hazardous

industry, where migrant farmworkers face a greater

risk of workplace injuries and illnesses, [18]. The

Migrant Experience article discusses the complex

set of economic and ecological interacting forces

that brought the migrant workers documented in this

ethnographic collection to California. Mexican

immigrants had long been an integral part of

agricultural production in the United States and

were not newcomers even in 1940, [19]. A study

researched the healthcare disparities among migrant

farm workers in NJ following a series of field

observations within the local clinics, [20].

A systematic literature review was conducted

to identify factors related to the health-related

quality of life of domestic migrant workers and to

synthesize studies. The review found that research

on the QoL of migrant workers was centered in

cities such as Seoul and Busan, and agricultural,

fishery, and livestock workers were relatively

limited, [21]. The studies reviewed in a literature

review on migrant agricultural workers highlighted

that migrant farmworkers work under deplorable

working conditions and face numerous health and

safety hazards, including occupational chemical and

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ergonomic exposures, various injuries and illnesses,

discrimination and social exclusion, poor pay and

long working hours, and language and cultural

barriers, [18].

2.2 Shifting Industrial Landscape

The literature review on shifts in the industrial

landscape and migrants as farm workers reveals

several key findings. Migrant dairy workers in

Vermont face a wide range of occupational and

health hazards, [22]. In California's San Joaquin

Valley, farmworkers and young people are playing a

growing role in shaping rural politics, [23]. The

United Farm Workers union attracted national

headlines and gained labor contracts with higher

wages and improved working conditions,

galvanizing the Chicano movement, [24]. Migrant

workers face various psychological health issues,

including stress, depression, and coping, [25].

Rural areas are experiencing severe labor

shortages due to out-migration, impacting food

security and sovereignty, [26]. As automation

technologies replace vulnerable forms of low-skilled

migrant labor, there is a qualitative shift in farm

work, [27]. Overall, the literature highlights the

unique occupational and environmental risks faced

by migrant farm workers, the role of farmworkers in

shaping rural politics, and the need for further

research on the psychological health of migrant

workers.

3 Method

This article uses qualitative research, a research

process, and an understanding based on a

methodology investigating social phenomena and

human problems. With this approach, it is hoped

that as much in-depth information as possible can be

obtained from the problems in the field so that this

research can comprehensively reveal the facts in the

field, which is located in Berastagi City, Karo

Regency, which is dominated by agricultural

landscapes of vegetables, fruits, and plantations,

[28]. The study, [29], argues that qualitative

methodology is a research procedure that produces

descriptive data in written or spoken words from

people and observed behavior. Descriptive and

qualitative research describes the social phenomena

in the object under study. The approach seeks to

reveal the relationship between various social

phenomena that explanatory research cannot

achieve.

4 Results and Discussion

4.1 Economic and Social Life of Migrants as

Farmworkers

Poverty is a fundamental problem in a country

whose people depend on the agrarian sector,

especially the limited absorption of labor, resulting

in unemployment, [30]. Along with the limited

absorption capacity of the labor force, there is a fact

that there are differences in the development of the

agricultural sector between various bloodlines. As a

result, labor mobility occurs from one region to

another. Facts were found about the emergence of

migrant farm laborers from other areas to Karo

District as an agricultural area that requires much

labor. These farm workers generally live in

Berastagi District and work in several nearby

agricultural areas.

Farm laborers often work long hours, from

morning to evening or night. Farm workers in

Berastagi District often work in the productive

sector but also do household work. Therefore,

migrant farm workers often face economic

difficulties and uncertainty about their future and

that of their families. Women who work as

agricultural laborers play an essential role in

supporting the economic needs of their families.

This is influenced by several things, from economic

needs to patrilineal solid customs. Batak women

have had the same opportunities as men in

education, employment, and position, although men

are often prioritized, [31].

Large landowners often employ migrants as

farm laborers in the Berastagi District to earn wages

as daily laborers on the landowner's agricultural

land. After that, the produce is collected, and the

farm workers can cultivate the owner's land for

about six months before planting. If they are not

employed as laborers, they have no choice but to

create small businesses that produce the equivalent

of their salary or earn their daily living. The Central

Statistics Agency (BPS) stated that the nominal

wage for farm workers in October 2019 had

increased by 0.12% to Rp—38,278 per day.

Suppose a farm worker earns Rp. Thirty-eight

thousand two hundred seventy-eight per day and

have to support all members of his family, then

surely they will be below the poverty line. Farm

workers who work 30 days a month will receive a

wage of Rp—1,148,340 in one month, [32].

The life of migrant farm workers is complicated

because they do not generate much money from

their hard work as farm laborers. The income

derived from agricultural activities does not affect

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the increase in income, let alone the potential threat

of crop failure, [33].

Fig. 1: Harvested Area, Production, and Average Productivity of Field Rice in Karo Regency, 2019

Source: [34]

Therefore, many migrant farm workers from the

agricultural sector in Berastagi District have

different and unequal incomes with their jobs to

cover their necessities of life. Various necessities of

life, such as clothing, food, shelter, and health, must

be met for self and family survival. Because the

necessities of life are unlimited and must be filled to

sustain life, the condition of having to continue

working hard to earn money to support his family,

whether we like it or not, must continue.

In other words, the struggle to meet these needs is

nothing more than a work activity fulfilling the need

for survival. The low income of migrant farm

workers is not the only reason that causes problems.

Not having skills in life governance management is

considered very important in financial management

to deal with difficult situations that can occur at any

time, [12]. The following shows the production of

crops in Berastagi District compared to cities in

Karo Regency which are presented in Figure 1.The

data presented shows that the harvested area in the

Berastagi District is only around 4 hectares with a

production of 11.11 tons; this is the second smallest

crop producer in Berastagi Regency. Therefore,

Migrant Farm Workers in the District of Berastagi

do not prioritize the work of farm laborers as the

main subject of work, considering the condition of

the District of Berastagi as an agro-tourism location.

Migrants' Social Life as Farmworkers is at the

lowest level of society. Their position cannot fall

any lower, and no position can be held and no

position that can be lost. Such a position has a

significant impact on group values and norms.

Migrants as farm workers live to make ends

meet because there are no materials or people to

guarantee their lives in the future. This statement

has important implications for agriculture-oriented

development plans. These farm workers need to

have the educational background or intelligence that

is qualified to improve their social status and have

experience in governing agriculture. They are used

to working continuously as agricultural laborers, a

staple of their life, so they only know about working

roughly on agricultural lands, such as weeding,

planting, and harvesting. Many of them come from

other places (migrants), and these farm workers

hope to find opportunities for success or get higher-

paying and less competitive jobs when their time is

up with contract work with landowners.

In the distribution of results, migrant farm

laborers in Berastagi District who do not own land

have an agreement between the farm laborers as

cultivators and the owners of the fields or land

regarding the system for sharing the crops. Farm

laborers bear all production and planting costs,

while the land owner provides land for rice

cultivation. When the harvest season comes, the

income is divided between the landowners and the

farm laborers. The wage distribution system for

agricultural activities is an agreement between the

landowner and the farmhand regarding the field or

paddy field where the farmer works in a specific

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area of the natural agricultural process. However,

the farmhand has the right to harvest rice and

agricultural produce to participate in the harvest

obtained according to the contract. However, other

risks are owned by farm workers, namely when

there is crop failure / puso. They risk not getting

their crops and being paid even though they have

worked from the start.

The amount of cultivated land cultivated by

some of the Berastagi District farm workers is more

than just rice fields to get an abundant harvest. The

number of fields cultivated influences income from

the harvest season. The more rice fields cultivated

by agricultural laborers, the higher the yield;

conversely, if fewer, the income will be lower.

Compiled from data processing in the field, it shows

that several factors cause the low income of farm

workers in Berastagi District, namely, needing land

to manage the lack of income. The low income from

agricultural products is relatively small to meet the

many needs of forced farm labor families.

Most migrant farm workers in Berastagi

District have a shallow level of education. The last

level of education is Elementary School (SD);

agricultural farm workers find it challenging to get

more part-time jobs. With a part-time job, more is

needed; even the income is sometimes very

insufficient. Migrant farmworkers with less

education have implications for low income. Lack

of work skills also supports more income than work

that can be done. However, migrant farm workers in

Berastagi District only have farming skills in the

fields or rice fields, and even then, they are not their

own, so they do not have side activities in the fields

or rice fields to achieve maximum income.

Individual skills affect the productivity of farm

laborers. The capacity for skills and stability can

boost the productivity of farm workers so that their

income can automatically be maximized.

Age is one of the factors that affect the level of

income. Age strength is related to the volume of

physical activity in cumbersome work because if

you are old, physical activity in the rice fields or

plantation fields is also less productive. This can be

seen from the average age of farm laborers, around

50 years and over. The existing physical strength is

also reduced if the productive period has passed.

Decreased labor productivity can lead to decreased

income. Almost all farm workers in the District of

Berastagi are elderly. They are no longer at their

productive age, so their work could be more

optimal, and their income could be more optimal,

which causes their income to be low.

This is corroborated by several theories of

Human Capital Theory: According to this theory,

age can affect income because of the experience and

knowledge gained with age. Someone who has

worked in a field for many years tends to have

higher skills and expertise, which can increase their

chances of getting a better job and a higher income.

Life-Cycle Theory: This theory states that

income tends to increase with age until it peaks at

productive age, and then decreases after retirement.

At a young age, a person is usually still in the

education or training stage, so his income is

relatively low. However, as you get older, the

experience and skills you gain increase your

chances of getting a better job and higher income.

After retirement, income usually decreases due to a

lack of income from work.

Age Discrimination: Discrimination based on

age can also affect a person's income. Some

research suggests that older people may face

discrimination in the workforce, which can limit

their opportunities for better jobs and higher

incomes. Occupational choice can also be

influenced by age. Some jobs may be more common

among certain age groups, and certain jobs may

require higher skills or physical strength which may

decrease with age. This can affect a person's income

because of the job he chooses.

4.2 Migrant Farmworkers in the Shift in the

Post-Covid 19 Industrial Landscape

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant

changes in the industrial landscape, affecting

various agricultural industry sectors. Landscape

shifts, especially in land use, have led to the

marginalization of farmers, limiting their access to

resources because they need more skills to

anticipate these changes, [35], [36]. Changing the

conventional agricultural sector into agro-tourism

narrows the space for migrant farm workers to work

according to their expertise. The shift in the

industrial landscape after the COVID-19 pandemic

gave positive and negative sides to layers of society.

Berastagi District is a tourist location area which is

undoubtedly an area that implements this landscape

shift. In terms of the shift in the industrial

landscape, including Hygiene, Low-Touch, Less

Crowd, and Low-Mobility products, this impacts the

ability of farm workers, [37].

In Indonesia, the work of a migrant farm

laborer is dependent on nature and capital from

landowners, [38]. Farm workers depend on rice

fields and their dependence on natural conditions

such as the rainy season and other climates, [39].

Developing farm labor resources is nothing but to

secure their livelihoods and cover their needs

through agricultural products, [40]. The change in

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the landscape of the conventional agricultural

industry to switch to agro-tourism, which is closely

related to Hygiene, Low-Touch, Less Crowd, and

Low-Mobility products, is a natural consequence of

the post-Covid 19 pandemic, an increase in human

mobilization activities from cities to villages and

population numbers and other development

processes that always dynamic and adapting.

Changes in the landscape of the agricultural industry

will become a problem due to the disappearance of

the productivity of farm laborers working in the

fields or fields.

The marginalization of farm workers in the

Berastagi sub-district is due to the narrower working

area. Many land owners sell them to renewable agro

investors using technology as their business.

Livelihoods require farm workers to adopt different

strategies to survive and meet their household needs.

In the past, agricultural workers who depended on

their primary income from cultivating agricultural

land were now experiencing concerns from capital

owners who would sell their cultivated land. When

trying to work off-farm as an alternative to earning

household income, they experience rigidity caused

by a lack of skills, education, and age. Disruption of

the development of various functions of social

support and survival skills for migrant farm workers

causes them to be marginalized from the search for

a source of livelihood.

As is mentioned in the theory of livelihood

marginalization is a concept that refers to the ways

in which people's livelihoods can be marginalized or

excluded from mainstream economic activities, [4].

This can be due to a variety of factors, including

land and resource grabbing, the financialization of

food and agriculture, vulnerability, and

marginalization, [5]. Marginalization can also occur

due to conservation-driven displacement, where

people are forced to leave their homes and adapt to

new livelihoods. In some cases, people may be able

to develop adaptive strategies to cope with these

changes, but the sustainability of these strategies

may be questioned, [6]. The theory of

marginalization of livelihoods can be analyzed using

a different theoretical framework, such as rational

choice theory or Actor-Network Theory (ANT). The

absence of norms regarding limited available

resources and the absence of institutionalized

collective action can place people in danger of

exclusion and marginalization.

5 Conclusion

The Existence of Migrants as Farm Workers in the

Post-COVID-19 Industrial Landscape in Berastagi

City, Karo Regency, is fraught with difficulties.

Large-scale technology-based agribusiness and

agro-tourism that can produce food more efficiently

and inexpensively with limited access to resources

such as land and water, not to mention low salaries

and terrible labor conditions, as well as exposure to

harmful chemicals and pesticides, pose a threat.

Furthermore, the absence of legal protection and

social safety nets implies that the presence of

migrant farm workers simply further marginalizes

them. Farm laborers' experiences in the post-

COVID-19 age of shifting industrial landscapes are

varied and multifaceted. The adaptation pattern of

migrant agricultural laborers occurs through cultural

adaptation, such as doing any work to survive,

particularly in the destination area, where they still

acquire a laborer's job as long as they do not choose

to pick, are dedicated, and are thorough in their

work.

Migrant farm laborers who improve their

socioeconomic status are hardworking, diligent,

thrifty, and able to create solid social contacts with

the local community (active and passive strategies).

The problems of living in their place of origin

motivate migratory farm laborers to leave their

place of origin, and job prospects are determined by

the effectual working days in a month, which is

more prominent in the destination area. Even if not

all migrant farm workers' socioeconomic lives have

improved, mainly as evaluated by indices of

housing, children's education, and health,

employment prospects remain a factor that draws

migrant agricultural workers to Berastagi. The

presence of migratory farm workers who do not

settle down has a detrimental influence on the

establishment of slum-like rental housing.

Dependence on external labor will have a long-term

impact on the agricultural process in Berastagi,

resulting in a decrease in the socioeconomic

indicators on the first point, namely the level of

skills, education, and age, which also causes the

supply of income to become unequal to obtain

necessities of life such as decent housing, clothing,

and food, as well as health.

As a result, it is suggested that farm laborers

implement an active strategy of adaptation strategies

(Coping Strategies), namely by optimizing existing

resources by doing additional or side work, in

addition to creating their work by renting other

people's land to address shifts in the landscape of

the agricultural industry following the Covid 19

pandemic. Alternatively, a passive technique of

pressing or tightening expenses by decreasing

family spending on clothing, food, and shelter might

be implemented. The most crucial part of dealing

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with difficult times is social network requirements.

In times of crisis, social networks are the most

adaptable. The most effective use of social networks

can compensate for any limitations or difficulties

encountered by migrant farm workers. These

benefits can (1). Increase access to information: By

using social networks, governments can provide

migrant workers with more accessible information

about their rights, work regulations, and health

services. This can help migrant workers understand

their rights and gain access to the services they

need. (2). Raising awareness: This research can

raise awareness about the problems faced by

migrant workers and provide information on how to

address these problems. This can help the

government and society to understand the needs and

challenges faced by migrant workers. (3). Improve

coordination: Using social networks, the

government can facilitate coordination between

migrant workers, civil society organizations, and

government agencies. This can help strengthen

support networks and increase the effectiveness of

efforts to address problems faced by migrant

workers. (4). Increase participation: This research

can increase the participation of migrant workers in

decision-making processes and enable them to speak

directly with governments and civil society

organizations. This can assist in strengthening

democracy and increasing the involvement of

migrant workers in policy-making processes.

Someone who knows and communicates

effectively with landowners receives more trust and

opportunities than someone with a tiny social

network or who follows. A patron-client

relationship in the social network approach

controlled by landowners makes the social network

even stronger and more profitable. Landowners

complement and benefit each other in the patron-

client relationship and the personal relationships that

have been intertwined therein. It is envisaged that

migrant farm laborers who use active, passive, and

social networks will be able to adjust well under

challenging circumstances.

Acknowledgment:

Researchers would like to thank the Research

Institute of the University of North Sumatra for

providing the funds to conduct this research

properly. The Talenta Program year 2020 supports

this research through the Basic Research Scheme.

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DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.93

Bengkel Ginting, Tuti Atika, Februati Trimurni

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

996

Volume 19, 2023

Contribution of Individual Authors to the

Creation of a Scientific Article (Ghostwriting

Policy)

- Bengkel Ginting developed the research concept,

conceptualization, and framework, as well as

implemented and reported the research

phenomenon.

- Tuti Atika's grammar has improved in social

academia.

- Trimurni Februati organized, put out, and looked

for secondary data.

Sources of Funding for Research Presented in a

Scientific Article or Scientific Article Itself

Researchers would like to thank the Research

Institute of the University of North Sumatra for

providing the funds to conduct this research

properly. The Talenta Program year 2020 supports

this research through the Basic Research Scheme.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

(Attribution 4.0 International, CC BY 4.0)

This article is published under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en

_US

WSEAS TRANSACTIONS on ENVIRONMENT and DEVELOPMENT

DOI: 10.37394/232015.2023.19.93

Bengkel Ginting, Tuti Atika, Februati Trimurni

E-ISSN: 2224-3496

997

Volume 19, 2023