DDHK.ORG - Among Indonesian migrant workers in Hong Kong, the name JP BAI (Bintang Al-Ikhlas Package Services) is already very popular. This business brand serves goods delivery services from Indonesia to Hong Kong.
Since its establishment, JP BAI has been described as an effort to send goods "collectively" to Indonesian migrant workers. How could it not be, this business was initiated by migrant workers and has around 100 agents in the country which are generally also managed by former migrant workers and their families.
"I still take care of JP BAI, and God willing, I will always be at JP BAI, because this business I pioneered it. When he started this business in Hong Kong, he intended to become a business field when he returned to his hometown. Now, I give JP BAI business command from Pati, ”said Lintang, the owner and pioneer of JP BAI, when contacted by DDHKNews, Thursday (27/8/2020).
Lintang himself is a former Indonesian migrant worker in Hong Kong. The woman who “retired” from the status of a foreign domestic worker in Indonesia in 2018 worked in Hong Kong for 9 years, since 2009.
JP BAI was founded in 2011. “All of this started in 2010. At that time, many lesehan libraries were managed by migrant workers in Hong Kong and needed a supply of books from Indonesia. However, the shipping cost, via the post office, is relatively expensive, around Rp. 300 thousand per kilogram, and the amount that can be sent is also limited. We, the managers of the Lesehan library, are very burdened, ”said Lintang, who while in Hong Kong also managed the Lesehan library in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. The name is the Al-Ikhlas Star Library (BAI).
It was on this basis that Lintang initiated the delivery business. Initially, it was to facilitate delivery of books from Indonesia to Hong Kong. In 2011, the business to deliver the goods was officially present, with the exact name of the Lesehan library it runs, Jasa Paket BAI.
"But lately, it's not just books sent by migrant workers via JP BAI. But also clothes and food. Increasingly here, they send chili sauce, salted fish, oncom, and all the food that is kept from their hometown. Some of them even sent amulets to make them feel at home working in Hong Kong, ”said Lintang.
In its first year of operation, Lintang used one of the flats on the 4th floor of Lei Shun Court in Causeway Bay, as a place to collect goods imported from Indonesia. The building is located on Haven Street, across from the right of the Hong Kong Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) building. Namely, the same office building Dompet Dhuafa Hong Kong now is.
At the end of 2013 or early 2014, the place for picking up goods was briefly moved to the Causeway Bay Commercial Building. In this building which is located on Sugar Street, not far from Victoria Park, JP BAI had occupied a space on the 5th floor as a warehouse and a place to collect goods. Then, move again to the 17th floor.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, the pilot agents are only in Depok, Sidoarjo, South Jakarta, Tanah Abang, Bekasi, Batang, and Solo. "At that time our agents in Indonesia were not even 10," said the woman who identified herself as Irna Saekun.
However, in 2020, or 9 years later, this business owned by Indonesian migrant workers is growing very rapidly. In Hong Kong, the pick-up point is not only in Causeway Bay. However, JP BAI also provides 18 pick-up points at once. Apart from Causeway Bay, also at Sham Shui Po, Mong Kok, Yuen Long, Tai Po, Sheung Shui, Tuen Mun, Tsing Yi, Yau Ma Tei, Choi Hung, To Kwa Wan, Chai Wan, Tseung Kwan O, Wong Tai Sin , Yau Ma Tei, Tsuen Wan, North Point, and Kwai Fong. JP BAI even opened a branch in Macau.
“JP BAI's partners in Hong Kong are Indonesian shops. The owner, an Indonesian citizen who has been doing business for a long time in Hong Kong. We built this partnership to bring our services closer to our service users and make it easier for friends to reach JP BAI services, ”said Lintang.
Meanwhile in Indonesia, currently JP BAI has at least 100 agents. In Jabodetabek, JP BAI has agents in Depok, Bekasi, Tanah Abang (Central Jakarta), North Jakarta, South Jakarta, East Jakarta, West Jakarta, and South Tangerang.
In Central Java, JP BAI agents are in Cilacap, Solo, Pekalongan, Yogyakarta, Batang, Kendal, Semarang, Brebes, Wonosobo, Purwokerto, Rembang, Pati, Kudus, Grobogan, Demak, and Sragen.
In East Java, JP BAI agents spread in Jember, Kediri, Tulungagung, Bondowoso, Malang, Madiun, Magetan, Ngawi, Sidoarjo, Bojonegoro, Lumajang, Probolinggo, Ponorogo, Banyuwangi, Blitar, Jombang, Trenggalek, and Nganjuk
While in West Java, there are in Subang, Cirebon, Bandung, Karawang, Tasikmalaya, Ciamis, Indramayu, and Majalengka.
Outside Java, JP BAI agents also exist in Bali, South Lampung, North Lampung and East Lampung. "For Kalimantan it is still pioneering, in the process," said Lintang.
"Nearly 90 percent of our partners, the owners of JP BAI agents in Indonesia, are full-time Indonesian migrant workers and their families of migrant workers," said the woman whose birthday is on 9 September.
To mention some of the names of former Indonesian migrant workers who are currently registered as owners of JP BAI agents, including, Lina in Subang, Bunda Mega in Tangerang, Azizah in Bekasi, Makhmuda in Sidoarjo, Retno in East Jakarta, Aida in Bali, Roviah and Erma in Blitar. There are also Ninik in Sragen, Ochi in West Jakarta, Marya in Lampung, and Syukriyah in Cilacap.
"They are all full-time Indonesian migrant workers, who have worked in Hong Kong," said Lintang.
By itself, JP BAI's business to send goods has created employment opportunities for former migrant workers and their families. “In one agency, at least the husband and wife of the migrant workers' family are involved. And we already have about 100 agents in Indonesia, ”he said, when asked how many workers were absorbed in this business.
Apart from Hong Kong and Macau, since 2012 JP BAI has also opened a service for sending goods from Indonesia to Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. On a limited basis, JP BAI also delivers goods between regions in Indonesia.
Currently, JP BAI cannot deliver goods from Hong Kong to Indonesia. "Licensing is a bit difficult for us. But we are working on the license, "said Lintang.[DDHK. ORG]
