Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia's manpower minister Muhaimin Iskandar estimated remittances from migrant workers during the current fasting month and ahead of the post-fasting holiday of Lebaran this year could reach Rp15 trillion.
"Usually remittances would rise sharply in the month of Ramadhan and ahead of Lebaran. It would be seen from big transfers of money to the home regions of migrant workers," he said here on Friday.
Actually remittances outside Ramadhan and Lebaran have also been quite big but they usually would rise sharply ahead of Lebaran, he said.
"Some workers send money through banks while others non-bank financial institutions. Many others send by entrusting it to fellow workers who return home," he said.
The minister hoped families of the workers would use the money for productive activities and only for important purposes.
They must "use the money wisely and not use it for consumptive purposes. It should be used for productive things or business," he said.
Muhaimin hoped the money would help move village community economic activities. "Consumptive usage would only increase economic activities temporarily. It will be different if the money is invested in business sectors that could create jobs such as in agriculture, plantation or trade," he said. (*/DWA)
