[ad_1]
Job opportunities, weak passports among reasons for leaving
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian diaspora numbers more than 7 million people, including ethnic Indonesians, legal and illegal migrant workers.
Most of them are in Malaysia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan and Singapore.
Citizens and former Indonesians living abroad cite a range of reasons for migrating: education and job opportunities, stability in their chosen country, marriage, and the relatively weak Indonesian passport.
When Ms. Vivi Fajar went to the United States 18 years ago, her plan was to get an MBA, gain some work experience there, and then return home.
“But gradually my work became enjoyable and I made a lot of friends,” said the 41-year-old insurance administrator, who now lives in California with her husband and three children.
Besides having a beautiful mosque nearby, she said, “I often meet up with Indonesian friends and go to parks and beaches to enjoy fresh air and nature, which is impossible in Jakarta.” The Indonesian capital, where Ms. Vivi once lived, is known for its air pollution.
Monique Patricia, 54, is from Rotterdam and has lived in the Netherlands since 2017. She lived in Singapore since 1999 and later moved to the Netherlands.
She finds the structured environments in those countries attractive and says she plans to retire in the Netherlands. Although income tax rates there are high at nearly 50%, the entrepreneur says there are “significant benefits”.
“My daughter’s education expenses from primary school to high school and health insurance were covered by the insurance company until she turned 18,” said Ms. Monique.
[ad_2]
Source link
