SURABAYA (ILO News): In times of economic crisis, migrant workers are often the group of workers most vulnerable to adverse impact, as they tend to have the most insecure terms of employment. As it turns out, the current global economic crisis is no different, as migrant workers of various nationalities find themselves on the receiving end of the downturn.

In Asia and the Middle East, Indonesian migrant workers are predominantly employed in construction, manufacturing, plantations, agriculture, hotel and catering, and health and care work, including domestic services. Among these sectors, particularly construction, manufacturing, hotel and catering have been negatively affected by the global financial crisis. Thousands of Indonesian migrant workers have already been laid-off in the export-oriented economies such as Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Korea, etc. For their families almost exclusively dependent on their remittances, this is a severe blow, particularly as migrant workers in the present economic climate have trouble finding new jobs, either abroad or in Indonesia.

To discuss further about the impact of the crisis on Indonesian migrant workers, the International Labour Organization (ILO), in collaboration with JJFM 105.10 Surabaya, a leading radio station in East Java, will organize an interactive talkshow, “The Impact of the Financial Crisis to Indonesian Migrant Workers, in particular in East Java” on Wednesday, 22 April 2009, at JJFM Conference Room, Surabaya, East Java.

The talkshow will present M. Cholily (Chairman of East Java Migrant Workers Union), Heri Pratono (Lecturer of University of Surabaya), Rahayu (Head of East Java Service Unit of Migrant Workers) and Albert Y. Bonasahat (the ILO’s Programme Coordinator on Migrant Workers). This talkshow is held in conjunction with the commemoration of the ILO’s 90th anniversary and is part of a series of ILO 90 activities in Indonesia.

The talkshow aims to raise awareness about the impact of the financial crisis on Indonesia as the second largest exporter of labour after the Philippines. It also aims to stimulate an interactive discussion by participants on issues, such as the loss of overseas employment, the impact on working conditions, and how families cope with reduced remittances. In addition, the discussion will talk about the roles of national and local government, non-governmental organizations and local communities in mitigating the impact of the crisis on the migrant communities in Indonesia, in particular in East Java, and highlight ongoing programmes and good practices which are addressing the needs of affected migrant workers and their families.

For further information please contact:

Muhamad Nour
Local Project Coordinator of Migrant Workers in Surabaya
Tel. +6231 535-6363
Email