November 03, 2009 18:49 PM

Indonesian Migrant Workers Contribute US$4.1 Billion By Sept 2009

JAKARTA, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Indonesian migrant workers employed in foreign countries have contributed some US$4.1 billion to the country's earnings as of the third three month period ending September this year, a senior official at the manpower ministry said on Tuesday.

"The amount of migrant workers'contribution to the country would significantly help boost national economy," Antara news agency cited Lisna Poeloengan, deputy head of the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) as saying.

She made these remarks at the sidelines of Former Migrant Workers' Business Expo held in West Kalimantan province's capital city of Pontianak.

She said that as of now at least 6 million Indonesian migrant workers are working in foreign countries.

Previously, the head of BNP2TKI Jumhur Hidayat, said that Indonesian migrant workers were apparently the second largest contributor of the country's earnings in foreign currency after oil and gas export, the Antara news agency reported.

Jumhur added that migrant workers also helped the state reduce unemployment rate.

Besides that, they helped the life of more people in the areas they came from since each migrant worker finances, at least, five family members.

The money they sent to their families has multiplier effect to the development in their origin regions as people use the money to finance their business, Jumhur said.

-- BERNAMA

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