JAKARTA – To ensure the success of the People’s Business Credit (KUR) program for Indonesian Migrant Workers (TKI), Minister of Manpower and Transmigration (Menakertrans) Muhaimin Iskandar is conducting a roadshow to 38 TKI hubs across Indonesia.
"This entrepreneurship training can be an alternative choice for TKI, returning TKI, and their families to start businesses and work within the country rather than seeking informal employment abroad," said Muhaimin, as quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration (Kemenakertrans) in Jakarta, Tuesday (8/2/2011).
He hopes that the government's entrepreneurship training program and KUR TKI initiative will change the mindset of TKI families, encouraging them to venture into entrepreneurship, create new job opportunities, and improve their family’s welfare.
"The government is focused on empowering TKI economically by launching entrepreneurship training programs in TKI-sending regions. This is an effort to reduce the number of informal sector TKI being sent abroad," he added.
The entrepreneurship training will be tailored to community interests, potential, and available natural resources in TKI hubs. The types of entrepreneurship training provided include:
- Poultry, cattle, and goat farming
- Garment business, sewing, and embroidery
- Bridal makeup, culinary arts, motorcycle repair
- Screen printing and publishing, welding, small-scale construction, and more
Muhaimin explained that the entrepreneurship training by Kemenakertrans is conducted using methods such as technical knowledge transfer, fieldwork practice, business capital assistance, mentoring, and marketing strategies.
Regarding capital assistance, Muhaimin emphasized that collaboration with banks will be strengthened to provide KUR specifically for TKI. Even returning TKI are eligible for KUR micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) loans.
According to Kemenakertrans data as of July 2010, Cirebon, West Java recorded the highest number of TKI departures, with 129,717 migrant workers sent abroad, followed by:
- Indramayu, West Java: 95,581 people
- Subang, West Java: 95,180 people
- Cianjur, West Java: 89,182 people
- Central Lombok, NTB: 62,512 people
- West Lombok, NTB: 59,751 people
- Sukabumi, West Java: 55,207 people
- Ponorogo, East Java: 47,717 people
- East Lombok, NTB: 46,962 people
- Malang, East Java: 39,610 people
(Source: okezone.com)