BANYUMAS. 24 ex-migrant workers from Banyumas Residence was gathered at the Gurinda Sarwa Mandala hall which owned by Department of Education of Banyumas Residence (12/2/2012). They are gathered to be trained as a professional massager, in particular about acupuncture and reflection massage.

“I believe everyone could do massage but not everyone knows the technique, especially about reflection and acupuncture,” said Suswanti, a participant who was migrant worker in Singapore.

Suswanti and other massagers are involved to this training which simultaneously held in response to the migrant’s placement moratorium. Through this training, Government hopes that participants would no longer go abroad for work as they are currently have an intangible asset which is skill to earn a living at their own homeland as massagers.

Suswanti worked in Singapore during 1996-1998. After stayed home for couple years, she was planned to work abroad again, however, banned of migrants sending to some particular countries, deprives her hopes to earn a living in the land of strangers.

“We had 1,5 months of training and we got certificate from this training,” said Suswanti with pride. She plans to removes her wish to work abroad and start her own massage business as she already has enough skills to open one.

Head of Non Formal Education of Department of Education of Banyumas Residence, Siswoyo, said that this program really useful in order to overcome the impact of migrant workers moratorium as well as to tackle unemployment problem.

“There are 260 participants of this program in Banyumas Residence. They learn many kind of skills such as sewing, bridal make up, cuisine, border, hair styling, and acupuncture, “ he elucidated.