Countries Without Migrant Voices: A Participatory StudyWoman Indonesian Migrant Workers in the 2024 Election in Taiwan

Abstract

Women's participation in politics still often faces obstacles, particularly for Indonesian Migrant Women Workers (PPMI), many of whom are still denied the right to vote in the 2024 general election. This study aims to identify the political participation of PPMI in Taiwan in the 2024 presidential election. This study employed a qualitative approach and collected data through questionnaires and interviews with election officials and several PPMI (Indonesian Student Associations) registered as UT students in Taiwan. All collected data were analyzed using qualitative data analysis techniques. The results of the study indicate that the political participation of PPMI in Taiwan is still low, where of the 155,145 women registered for the voter list, only 37,844 people or 24.4% exercised their right to vote. The low political participation of PPMI is due to the nature of PPMI's work, which is mostly isolated in the employer's home, which limits them when they want to leave the house, including when going to the polling station. This study also revealed that PPMI's involvement in the success of the election stages is already visible, such as discussions or exchanging ideas through social media, forming study groups and participating as election officers. This PPMI involvement shows a positive indication, so it is necessary to continue efforts to increase PPMI's awareness of their constitutional rights, and increase election socialization through the involvement of UT students in Taiwan.