KUALA LUMPUR - Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) has distributed a total of Rp936.5 billion in Kredit Usaha Rakyat (KUR) or People’s Business Loans to migrant workers from 2015 to October 2025.

As of October, the number of migrant workers who received BNI’s microcredit had reached 50,022.

Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Mukhtarudin said he hopes migrant worker remittances will not be spent mainly on consumption.

He said the government is building an ecosystem that will help returning workers start their own businesses.

One of the efforts, he said, is the signing of memorandums of understanding between the Ministry of P2MI and other ministries to support migrant worker empowerment.

“For those who want to start micro enterprises, they can work with the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs.

“For micro businesses that aim to expand into export markets, we already have a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Trade,” Mukhtarudin said during his speech at Puri Ardhya Garini, East Jakarta, last Monday.

BNI Director Ronny Venir said migrant workers could obtain loans of up to Rp100 million with a maximum repayment period of three years.

“Hopefully in the future, with the government’s continued focus on migrant workers, we can provide even more support to them,” Ronny said.

He said the loan facility is intended to help migrant workers start their own businesses once they return to Indonesia.

According to a BNI survey, more than 70% of migrant worker remittances are used for consumption, while less than five percent are allocated for investment or productive activities.

Ronny said BNI has prepared several financial products to support small business development among returning migrant workers.

He added that BNI hopes workers will begin developing small businesses in Indonesia even while working overseas.

“In addition to KUR, we also offer Xpora and BNI Wirausaha credit schemes.

“We hope that even while they are abroad, they can start their small businesses here through their families whether that means opening small shops or other ventures,” Ronny said.