Central Bank to facilitate migrant workers

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Bank Indonesia plans to cut the transfer fees for money sent home by migrant workers in a bid to help the workers avoid being extorted upon their return to Indonesia.

The central bank's senior deputy governor, Anwar Nasution, said on Friday Bank Indonesia expected the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration to submit a proposal on the plan.

"We will discuss it with Jacob. We are still waiting for him (to submit his proposal). It is important for us to help reduce the hardships of our migrant workers," said Anwar, referring to Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwawea.

Most returning workers carry their money with them in cash instead of sending it home via banks because of the costly transfer fees.

This makes the workers an easy target for extortion and robbery by corrupt immigration and customs officials, as well as hoodlums, once they arrive here.

These corrupt officials often check the workers' bags for cash at special checkpoints at airports and seaports. They then threaten to confiscate the bags unless the workers agree to give them money.

Many analysts say the existence of these special checkpoints for migrant workers at international airports has institutionalized the exploitation of the workers.

As many as one million Indonesians worked overseas last year, sending about US$2 billion back to their families in Indonesia. The government hopes to increase this figure to $5 billion in 2005.