Livelihood Changes of Construction Migrant Workers in the New Capital City of Indonesia

Fairuza Rakhsi Marella; Cherlys Cherlys; Shofiya Nurjannah; Aisyah Ratna Meiana; Auliya Widyaningrum Pratiwi SP; Arta Aditya; Budi Prasetyo; Finna Anindya Widyatna; Galih Wijaya Surya Putra; Benedictus Haryo Wisnugroho; Khansa Hafshah Salma; Gunawan Prakoso; Muhammad Syahrian Zulkarnain; Keisha Devana Rahadini; Nasywa Ramadhisa; Laila Amalia Wulandari; Widi Sari SPD; Muhammad Haikal Giffari Atallah; Zenobia Rahmadani; Radjani Shafa Permana; Reyna Normalita

doi:10.31292/mj.v5i1.186

Authors

Fairuza Rakhsi Marella Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Cherlys Cherlys Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7873-6747
Shofiya Nurjannah Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Aisyah Ratna Meiana Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Auliya Widyaningrum Pratiwi SP Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Arta Aditya Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Budi Prasetyo Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Finna Anindya Widyatna Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Galih Wijaya Surya Putra Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Benedictus Haryo Wisnugroho Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Khansa Hafshah Salma Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Gunawan Prakoso Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Muhammad Syahrian Zulkarnain Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Keisha Devana Rahadini Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Nasywa Ramadhisa Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Laila Amalia Wulandari Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Widi Sari SPD Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Muhammad Haikal Giffari Atallah Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Zenobia Rahmadani Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Radjani Shafa Permana Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mada
Reyna Normalita Faculty of Geography, Universitas Gadjah Mad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31292/mj.v5i1.186

Keywords:

Ibu Kota Nusantara, migrant workers, sustainable livelihoods, Sustainable Livelihoods Framework, sustainable development

Abstract

The relocation of Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN) to Sepaku District, East Kalimantan, has triggered a significant influx of construction migrant workers, creating complex livelihood dynamics. The central issue is how this labor migration not only generates opportunities for improved welfare but also introduces new vulnerabilities across social, economic, and environmental dimensions. This study aims to analyze the livelihood transformations of migrant workers using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (SLF), which encompasses five core capitals. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, combining in-depth interviews with migrant workers and local communities with supporting document analysis. Informants were selected through snowball and accidental sampling, and data were thematically analyzed to identify positive and negative impacts as well as cross-capital implications. Findings indicate that IKN development enhances human capital through skill acquisition and opens new economic opportunities (financial capital). However, vulnerabilities persist due to precarious employment, weak social protection, limited access to basic infrastructure, and environmental degradation affecting worker health. Thus, the success of IKN depends on policies that balance infrastructure development with the protection and strengthening of migrant workers’ livelihood assets as key actors in national transformation.

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