Data at Bakauheni ferry port`s command post showed that a total of 41,515 thousand travelers have until 8 a.m on Sunday returned to Jakarta from Sumatra.
Many of the travelers brought family members, relatives or friends to Jakarta.
Marsila (38), one of the pedestrian ferry passengers, said she was returning to Jakarta not alone but was accompanied by friends who intended to try their luck in Jakarta.
"Yes, I am traveling back to Jakarta not alone. I was alone when I went to hometown to celebrate the Idul Fitri holidays," she said.
She said she was just trying to help her friends because the company in her workplace was planning to recruit new workers.
Irvan, another travelers, said he was going to Jakarta to find a job. "I want to work in Jakarta. My friend told me salary in Jakarta is higher than in the region," he said.
Therefore, he expressed hope that he would find a job in Jakarta and get a higher salary.
He explained that Lampung province offered less job opportunities. "Many university graduates (S1) are still jobless."
He said that he hoped Jakarta would be promising for him. "Who knows I will get a chance in Jakarta so that will be able to financially assist my parents," he added.
Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar has earlier said that after the post-fasting holidays about one million newcomers are expected to migrate to big cities throughout the country.
"This is a phenomenon where people from villages migrate to cities after Idul Fitri or Lebaran holidays. They come to cities to seek jobs," explained the minister on Monday.
Most people migrating to cities do not have proper skills and find it extremely difficult to obtain jobs, authorities noted.***4***
(Andi Abdussalam/Fardah Assegaf )
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
