<![CDATA[Circular migration among informal workers is a growing phenomenon due to limited employment opportunities in their regions of origin. This study aims to analyze the driving factors of circular migration, job characteristics, income management, and the potential for an informal labor trap among small shop attendants from Madura. The study employs a descriptive-interpretive qualitative approach, involving seven informants selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with the assistance of NVivo 15. The results indicate that circular migration is driven by limited job opportunities and low income in their regions of origin, family economic needs, and the influence of migrants’ social networks. Access to employment is generally obtained through friends, relatives, and the Madurese migrant community. Work as a shop attendant is characterized by long working hours, minimal labor protections, and employment relationships based on trust. The income earned is largely used to meet family needs, for remittances, savings, and simple investments. Migration has a positive impact on family well-being through increased income and economic stability. However, limited mobility into the formal sector and dependence on informal work indicate the presence of an informal labor trap. This study concludes that circular migration is an effective economic strategy for improving family well-being but has not yet been fully capable of creating sustainable economic transformation.]]>
