Page 72 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Migrant traders, social capital, and politics

According to Booth (2001), in Indonesia, capital is often located on busy and strategic roadsides. At the front, a
brought in by people from outside the local community, Pertamini box – a shelf containing retail gasoline in bottles –
unlike in the West. Migrant traders can develop their is often displayed, and the merchandise is neatly arranged in
businesses for two primary reasons: First, their detachment wooden boxes based on their types. Rice is typically presented
from the Indigenous community grants them greater in a glass case resembling an aquarium, with visible price
flexibility, and second, their willingness to engage in debt labels at the forefront for immediate quality assessment by
and credit rotation (Booth, 2021). Their status as outsiders buyers. Furthermore, eggs and cigarettes are placed adjacent
facilitates the process of investing money, offering loans at to the rice. The cigarettes, available in various brands, are laid
elevated interest rates, or acquiring goods from residents flat within the same glass showcase. In the background, a
more efficiently than Indigenous individuals, who are often wall-mounted rack holds wooden boxes (approximately 30 ×
constrained by kinship ties and societal obligations (Binns 30 cm), containing a diverse array of items for sale, such as
& Nel, 1999; Booth, 2021; Henley & Boomgaard, 2009). instant noodles, milk, soap, and bottled beverages. The stall’s
Through these practices, migrant traders gradually achieve ceiling is adorned with sachet-packaged products such as
self-sufficiency and come to dominate the economic snacks, coffee, kitchen spices, and shampoo. Additionally, a
sector in various regions of Indonesia (Binns & Nel, 1999; traditional Madurese machete named “celurit,” the emblematic
Fonchingong & Fonjong, 2002; Mas’udah, 2020). However, weapon of the ethnic group, is often suspended on the rear
as Gregory (1997) points out and as this study confirms, the wall or occasionally on an inner shelf, symbolizing the store’s
movement of capital within migrant networks in Indonesia identity and the vigilance of the community.
is ultimately dependent on certain types of kinship and A distinguishing characteristic of Warung Madura is
sociality. Kinship relations, especially extended family, their continuous operation, as they remain open 24 h a day,
play a very important role in managing capital in migrant 7 days a week, without any closure. Due to this uniqueness,
trader networks. The stronger the kinship solidarity, the there is a humorous saying, “Warung Madura only
greater the ability to mobilize and accumulate capital in the closes on Judgment Day.” Regarding the reasons for this
migrant trader network. continuous operation, respondents provided the following
Most Warung Madura in Greater Jakarta is owned by explanations: 94 (47%) cited it as a tradition of Madura
migrant trader networks from Sumenep, the easternmost grocery stalls in Jakarta; 64 (32%) mentioned it was to
regency of Madura Island, as shown in Table 1. Out of 200 increase profit; 12 (6%) attributed it to competition with
respondents, 154 (77%), 32 (16%), 10 (5%), and 4 (2%) modern minimarkets; and 30 (15%) gave other reasons
are from Sumenep, Pamekasan, Sampang, and Bangkalan, (Table 2). The management is carried out independently
respectively. The grocery stall owners often come from the by the owners or stall keepers, usually, two individuals
islands of Sumenep, especially Talango Island and Sapudi working in shifts, acting as employees purchasing goods
Island. Even though there are people from Bangkalan, and simultaneously as financial recorders. For efficiency
Sampang, or Pamekasan who recently opened grocery and convenience, owners or employees typically reside
stalls in Jakarta, their numbers are smaller compared to within the stalls. Only a few rent or lease nearby houses,
those from Sumenep. In the Madurese language, opening while most employees are either relatives of the owners
a grocery store is commonly referred to as noko (derived or friends. Most stalls use a profit-sharing system for
from took, meaning store) or berung (derived from warung, their employees rather than a fixed monthly salary. In
meaning small grocery stall). this system, employees share responsibility for the stall’s
Compared to others, the Warung Madura has several earnings, with higher profits translating to higher income.
distinctive features easily recognizable in terms of the stall’s Table 2. Reasons for Warung Madura in Greater Jakarta to
appearance and management. Warung Madura is typically
operate 24 h
Table 1. Origin of Warung Madura owners in Jakarta Respondent’s answers Number Percentage
(n)
Regency Number (n) Percentage To get more profit 64 32
Bangkalan 4 2 To be able to compete with modern 12 6
Sampang 10 5 minimarkets
Pamekasan 32 16 It is a habit (Madurese grocery stall tradition) 94 47
Sumenep 154 77 Other reason 30 15
Total (N) 200 100 Total (N) 200 100
Source: Field study questionnaire data (2023). Source: Field study questionnaire data (2023).

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 66 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2637