Inclusive Society and Sustainability Studies

How Significant Are Training and Certification in Shaping Indonesian Migrant Workers’ Long-Term Careers?

2025-03-12T11:13:12+07:00

This study investigates the effectiveness of competency certification in supporting the career continuity of Indonesian Migrant Workers (IMWs) in host countries. Mandated by Law No. 18 of 2017, competency certification is positioned as a prerequisite for placement, based on the assumption that it ensures the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian labor. However, many IMWs continue to experience repatriation due to perceived incompetence. This research employed a qualitative case study approach, through in-depth interviews with eight informants: three informal-sector IMWs in Taiwan and five officials from BP3MI/KP2MI across various regions, supplemented by a focus group discussion with two policy experts. Thematic analysis using NVivo 12 identified five key themes: (1) challenges of varying standards, costs, and limited access; (2) the need for international recognition; (3) the role of government and private actors in monitoring and support; (4) certification as a driver of competitiveness and employment opportunities; and (5) certification as a legal safeguard and instrument of quality standardization. The findings show that certification has a positive influence on IMWs’ entry into the international labor market and enhances their confidence. However, its long-term impact remains limited due to the absence of global recognition, misalignment between training curricula and workplace demands, and weak post-placement support. These results align with the Theory of Attitude and Behavior and the Theory of Planned Behavior, indicating that training fosters positive attitudes and social norms; yet, sustained professional behavior is hindered by low perceived behavioral control, which is caused by structural barriers. The study recommends harmonizing certification standards with those of destination countries, improving the relevance of training curricula, and strengthening institutional support after placement. Ultimately, competency certification must be complemented by continuous learning systems to enhance the quality and career sustainability of IMWs effectively.

Determinants of Community Welfare in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

2025-08-05T22:07:58+07:00

Community welfare is a fundamental objective in achieving sustainable and equitable development, particularly in regions facing persistent urban–rural disparities. Despite various policy interventions, including fiscal transfers and targeted development programs at local levels, the determinants of community welfare remain a subject of debate. This study examines the key economic determinants of community welfare in Southeast Sulawesi Province, Indonesia, focusing on economic growth, income inequality, labor absorption, infrastructure availability, and investment. Using panel data regression analysis, this study investigates the causal relationships between these economic factors and community welfare across districts and cities in Southeast Sulawesi from 2012 to 2021, based on data from the Central Statistics Agency. The results indicate that labor absorption, income inequality, infrastructure development, and investment have significant effects on community welfare. Employment emerges as the most influential factor, suggesting that higher labor absorption plays a critical role in improving welfare outcomes. Income inequality shows a significant negative effect, indicating that increasing disparities reduce overall welfare. Infrastructure development and investment positively contribute to welfare by enhancing public services and expanding employment opportunities. In contrast, economic growth demonstrates a weaker impact compared to other determinants. This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence that community welfare is more strongly influenced by employment creation and inequality reduction than by economic growth alone. The findings offer important policy implications for regional development planning, emphasizing the need for inclusive, labor-oriented, and infrastructure-supported development strategies to enhance welfare in developing regions.

Financial Ratio-Based Corporate Bankruptcy Prediction to Reduce Investment Loss Risk

2025-03-12T11:17:33+07:00

The increasing risk of bankruptcy that occurs in the textile industry today is a result of macroeconomic pressures, such as decreased demand and inflation, which has resulted in 7 textile companies closing and 8 companies making efficiency. The intent of this study is to investigate the effect of financial ratios such as profitability ratios, operational ratios, and liquidity ratios on the level of financial distress as measured by the Grover model (G-Score), as well as to develop a financial ratio-based risk prediction model. The study methodology employs a positivist perspective, a quantitative approach, secondary data, and a purposive sampling procedure. The data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS 26 tool, which included descriptive statistical tests, classical assumptions, multiple regression, and hypothesis testing. The profitability ratio, operational ratio, and liquidity ratio were found to have a 79.5% influence on the extent of financial distress. Each ratio has a substantial impact on the level of financial difficulty. This study adds theoretically to signaling theory regarding the financial ratios as indications of bankruptcy risk. Practically, this model can be an early detection tool for bankruptcy risk, assist in the preparation of risk mitigation strategies, and increase investment attractiveness in the Indonesian textile industry.

Keywords financial distress, liquidity ratio, operational ratio, profitability ratio, signal theory

Purchase Decisions for Event Packages at Hotel Candi Indah Semarang

2025-12-06T15:43:30+07:00

One of the hotels in Semarang City that provides event package services is Hotel Candi Indah Semarang. This research was motivated by the phenomenon of fluctuating event package sales at the hotel, particularly a significant decline in March 2025, which fell 58% below the target. Three key factors were examined as potential influences on consumer buying behavior: price sensitivity, brand awareness, and perceived service quality, along with their impact on purchase decisions for event packages. Data were collected through literature review, observation, and the distribution of questionnaires using a Likert scale to 80 participants who had previously utilized the hotel’s event package services. The sampling technique combined purposive sampling, by intentionally selecting respondents who had purchased event packages for at least 30 participants, and incidental sampling, by approaching respondents who met the research criteria by chance. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 with multiple linear regression. The findings revealed that price sensitivity, brand awareness, and perceived quality each had a significant effect on purchase decisions, both partially and simultaneously. Practically, the results of this study can assist Hotel Candi Indah Semarang’s management in developing more effective marketing strategies, particularly to increase event package sales by focusing on pricing strategies, service quality improvement, and strengthening brand awareness. Theoretically, this study enriches Expectancy Value Theory by demonstrating that price sensitivity, brand awareness, and perceived quality are significant determinants of purchase decisions in the hospitality industry.