BPS Notes Indonesia Becomes The Second Largest Migrant Worker Sending Country In Southeast Asia

Transportation illustration (photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) noted that Indonesia is the country that sends the second largest migrant workers in Southeast Asia after the Philippines.

Acting Head of BPS Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti said that 44 percent of Indonesia's 4.6 million international migrants were female.

"Indonesia is the second largest migrant worker sending country in Southeast Asia after the Philippines," Amalia said in a statement, Wednesday, December 20.

In addition, there is a reduction of 43 people per 100,000 Indonesian population to go abroad for workers every year.

Furthermore, as many as 72 people out of 1 million Indonesians are foreign nationals (WNA) and 19 of them are Chinese or Chinese citizens.

Amalia said that when compared from 1960 to 2020, migration from low-income countries doubled. Meanwhile, the number of people who come to high-income countries has almost tripled.

"Most of the international migrants come from middle-income countries, while the main destination countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), or better countries, or 88% to Saudi Arabia," he explained.

Based on data from the World Bank report for the low-skilled migrant category from Indonesia that migrated to the United States, it was able to get an increase in revenue of up to 500 percent.

According to him, international migrant income is influenced by skills, gender, age and language skills.

In general, the migrant wage with official documents is almost the same as the national wage for the destination country due to access to various formal jobs.