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Migrant workers hit by global downturn Migrant workers hit by global downturn
(about 8 hours later)
By Claire Bolderson BBC World Service, JakartaBy Claire Bolderson BBC World Service, Jakarta
For the countries of East Asia, the global economic crisis feels hauntingly familiar: many saw their economies and their burgeoning growth struck down by the Asian financial crisis more than 10 years ago.For the countries of East Asia, the global economic crisis feels hauntingly familiar: many saw their economies and their burgeoning growth struck down by the Asian financial crisis more than 10 years ago.
Like many other migrant workers, Acik's opportunites have dried upLike many other migrant workers, Acik's opportunites have dried up
This time, Asian economies may avoid the worst of it, but for many of their citizens who took advantage of globalisation to find better paying work overseas, their opportunities and their remittances are drying up.This time, Asian economies may avoid the worst of it, but for many of their citizens who took advantage of globalisation to find better paying work overseas, their opportunities and their remittances are drying up.
For Siti Juhariah, the first hint of the global economic crisis came when she heard the people she worked for arguing about money.For Siti Juhariah, the first hint of the global economic crisis came when she heard the people she worked for arguing about money.
The 30-year-old Indonesian, who likes to be known by her nick-name Acik, was a maid for a Chinese family in Hong Kong.The 30-year-old Indonesian, who likes to be known by her nick-name Acik, was a maid for a Chinese family in Hong Kong.
"My employers would sometimes get into fights because of the plunging stock markets," she told me."My employers would sometimes get into fights because of the plunging stock markets," she told me.
When she ate dinner with the family, "they would talk about people being laid off", she said.When she ate dinner with the family, "they would talk about people being laid off", she said.
The money I sent helped my sister...my brother's school and helped my father with the bills AcikThe money I sent helped my sister...my brother's school and helped my father with the bills Acik
Then the crisis hit home.Then the crisis hit home.
Her employer lost his construction job and Acik thinks his wife was sacked from the bank she had worked at for 15 years as Hong Kong's economy spiralled downwards.Her employer lost his construction job and Acik thinks his wife was sacked from the bank she had worked at for 15 years as Hong Kong's economy spiralled downwards.
They did not tell her the details, but it was obvious they could no longer afford a maid.They did not tell her the details, but it was obvious they could no longer afford a maid.
No warningNo warning
With no warning from one day to the next, Acik was told to pack her bags and leave.With no warning from one day to the next, Acik was told to pack her bags and leave.
It was a terrible blow for the young Indonesian and for her family back in her home town of Jember, in East Java.It was a terrible blow for the young Indonesian and for her family back in her home town of Jember, in East Java.
She had been to Hong Kong before.She had been to Hong Kong before.
The first time she spent four years there, and the $200 a month she sent home then helped her mother buy the small brick house in Jember where we met.The first time she spent four years there, and the $200 a month she sent home then helped her mother buy the small brick house in Jember where we met.
With money Acik sent from Hong Kong her mother was able to buy a houseWith money Acik sent from Hong Kong her mother was able to buy a house
I reached the family home through a network of neatly paved, narrow alleyways where children run in and out of houses and old ladies sit watching the world go by.I reached the family home through a network of neatly paved, narrow alleyways where children run in and out of houses and old ladies sit watching the world go by.
Behind the little community, down a steep grassy hill there was a fast flowing muddy river.Behind the little community, down a steep grassy hill there was a fast flowing muddy river.
"That's where I bathed as a kid," Acik said, pointing at the river."That's where I bathed as a kid," Acik said, pointing at the river.
The family did not have a home with running water back then and she was clearly proud of her role in helping them move up in the world.The family did not have a home with running water back then and she was clearly proud of her role in helping them move up in the world.
After returning to Indonesia to get married, Acik went back to working in Hong Kong so she could save for her own future.After returning to Indonesia to get married, Acik went back to working in Hong Kong so she could save for her own future.
"I want to buy my own house before we have children," she explained."I want to buy my own house before we have children," she explained.
But that dream is now on hold.But that dream is now on hold.
Acik graduated from high school. She was confident and articulate, but the job she did in Indonesia, as a cosmetics sales girl in a shop, paid a tiny fraction of what she could get in Hong Kong as a maid.Acik graduated from high school. She was confident and articulate, but the job she did in Indonesia, as a cosmetics sales girl in a shop, paid a tiny fraction of what she could get in Hong Kong as a maid.
It is the same story for hundreds of thousands of other young East Asian women who go to the richer countries in the region to be domestic servants.It is the same story for hundreds of thousands of other young East Asian women who go to the richer countries in the region to be domestic servants.
Indonesia and the Philippines are two of the main sources of migrant labour in the region.Indonesia and the Philippines are two of the main sources of migrant labour in the region.
Now a global downturn that started thousands of kilometres away means many are being forced to return home.Now a global downturn that started thousands of kilometres away means many are being forced to return home.
"A lot of my friends in Hong Kong had the same bad luck as me," Acik said."A lot of my friends in Hong Kong had the same bad luck as me," Acik said.
Few optionsFew options
Job prospects in East Java are not good for Acik, nor for her husband who used to be a salesman for a cigarette company until it went bust.Job prospects in East Java are not good for Acik, nor for her husband who used to be a salesman for a cigarette company until it went bust.
He has been unemployed for a year and Acik is not sure what she is going to do.He has been unemployed for a year and Acik is not sure what she is going to do.
MIGRANTS AND THE DOWNTURN East Asia and Pacific is the largest recipient of migrant remittances among all developing regionsLast year migrant workers from the region sent home $70bRegional remittances for 2009 are expected to drop by 4.2%4.5 million Indonesian workers earn their living outside the country69% of Indonesia's migrant workers are women Source: World Bank; Indonesian governmentMIGRANTS AND THE DOWNTURN East Asia and Pacific is the largest recipient of migrant remittances among all developing regionsLast year migrant workers from the region sent home $70bRegional remittances for 2009 are expected to drop by 4.2%4.5 million Indonesian workers earn their living outside the country69% of Indonesia's migrant workers are women Source: World Bank; Indonesian government
Even returning to the cosmetics counter is out, they only want women under 25.Even returning to the cosmetics counter is out, they only want women under 25.
She would like to go back to Hong Kong she told me, switching briefly from Indonesian to English so that her mother, Sanah, sitting nearby cannot understand.She would like to go back to Hong Kong she told me, switching briefly from Indonesian to English so that her mother, Sanah, sitting nearby cannot understand.
Sanah said she is very grateful for all Acik has done for her but she is obviously pleased, and relieved, that she is home.Sanah said she is very grateful for all Acik has done for her but she is obviously pleased, and relieved, that she is home.
It is a huge wrench for these families when someone ups and leaves for years on end, even if ultimately they all benefit.It is a huge wrench for these families when someone ups and leaves for years on end, even if ultimately they all benefit.
The Indonesian government says four and a half million of its citizens work overseas; the majority of them are women.The Indonesian government says four and a half million of its citizens work overseas; the majority of them are women.
And Acik said yes, she missed her family a lot when she was in Hong Kong, particularly her nephews and nieces, "but I called my husband almost every day and he understands why I want to do this."And Acik said yes, she missed her family a lot when she was in Hong Kong, particularly her nephews and nieces, "but I called my husband almost every day and he understands why I want to do this."
Working abroad had become a means of moving out of poverty in Asia, but many are now seeing that process go into reverse.Working abroad had become a means of moving out of poverty in Asia, but many are now seeing that process go into reverse.
The Indonesian government says across all sectors, job losses in far away countries may mean 200,000 migrants will have to return home.The Indonesian government says across all sectors, job losses in far away countries may mean 200,000 migrants will have to return home.
Acik is just one of those caught up in the economic storm.Acik is just one of those caught up in the economic storm.
"The money I sent from Hong Kong helped my sister, it paid for my brother's school and helped my father with the bills," she said."The money I sent from Hong Kong helped my sister, it paid for my brother's school and helped my father with the bills," she said.
Even if she does eventually find a job back in East Java she will not have that kind of money to share again.Even if she does eventually find a job back in East Java she will not have that kind of money to share again.
On Monday May 18 and Tuesday May 19, Claire Bolderson will be presenting special editions of Newshour from Indonesia, looking at the effects on Southeast Asia of the current global economic situation. You can listen live at 1330GMT on the BBC World Service .