Why do Filipinos work overseas on a much larger scale compared to Indonesians?

Andrianto Hadi

Most Indonesians only think to work overseas as the last option when they don’t have any other option. Unlike Filipinos, Indonesians since kids are told by their parents and teachers that the best for them is to live in their home country and be with their families and it has become deep rooted culture here so any Indonesian who works or studies overseas will likely to return home one day. Changing nationality and living permanently in foreign country is not going to enter their minds except for some conditions.

Language barrier can be also the reasons why there are few Indonesians in foreign countries since. Its not because they can’t learn foreign language, many of them still think it is unnecessary. Many younger Indonesians are now familiar with foreign languages but they learn foreign languages in order to compete in local job market and not for working abroad.

You ask 10 Indonesians about working in foreign countries and living in foreign countries, this is the result :

1. 6 people say they don’t want to work in foreign countries.
2. 3 people say they might be interested in working in foreign countries but one day they will return back home.
3. 1 person will say he wants to work and live permanently in foreign country.