Migrant workers contribute US$4.1 billion to RI`s forex income

Antara News, Tuesday, November 3, 2009 16:52 WIB

Pontianak (ANTARA News) - Indonesian migrant workers abroad, who now number a total of six million, contributed US$4.1 billion to the country`s foreign exchange earnings up till September 2009, a manpower official said.

"The huge amount of foreign exchange has a real potential to boost the national economy. Migrant workers can also use their salaries as capital to start their own businesses after they have returned home," Lisna Poeloengan, deputy head of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Migrant Workers(BNP2TKI), said here on Tuesday.

Lisna said former migrant workers had a better chance to become good entrepreneurs since they had the factors required for it, namely independence, working spirit, product orientation and propensity to save their money developed during their stay abroad.

She said efforts must be made to promote and encourage the working spirit in former migrant workers.

"This exhibition featuring former migrant workers turned entrepreneur in West Kalimantan can serve as good examples," she said when representing Chief of BNP2TKI Jumhur Hidayat during opening ceremony of West Kalimantan Employment Exchange 2009.

As many as 30 former migrant workers originated from Pontianak, Banten, East Java, Central Java and Yogyakarta will be participated in the Pontianak exhibition.

They recently develop business in several sectors such as food products, electronic, fishery, Batik making and other export oriented products. This year`s exhibition will also featured 35 companies offering 4,512 vacancies for the visitors.

Before, Chief of BNP2TKI Jumhur Hidayat stated migrant workers are country`s second largest foreign exchange earner after oil and gas.

The chief added migrant workers were doing a great service to their country because they helped to reduce unemployment, each of them was providing a living for an average of five family members, and having a "multiplier effect" on regional development.

Their remittances were creating bases for the growth of entrepreneurship in their places of birth or origin.

"Therefore, they deserve to be called one of the country`s prime earners of foreign exchange. Their annual monetary contibutions combined are second only to the country`s earnings from oil and gas exports," Hidayat said.

Consequently, according to Hidayat, the government and all parties concerned should treat migrant workers with high respect, from the time they depart, while they are working abroad until they return home.

"The services to and protection of migrant workers should not only be good but excellent," Hidayat said.