'The saddest Eid' - coronavirus cuts lifeline for Indonesian migrant families

STARTUP

Some returning workers have started their own small businesses, but sluggish consumer sentiment makes it tough.

"It's always difficult to find jobs in village, which is why I became a migrant worker," said Arumy Marzudhy, once a nanny in Singapore who now sells rice crackers in East Java province.

"The decline in sales is a blow and there is no fixed salary any more," said 32-year-old Marzudhy, who was paid S$1,000 ($707) a month as a nanny.

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Sumasri Asri, 46, struck a more optimistic note about Eid.

The mother of two worked as a cleaner in Malaysia for a decade until she lost her job in March. She has started a sewing business back home - and sees a silver lining in her layoff.

"Getting an income in the village is tough, but I can't be a migrant worker forever. This pandemic has been an opportunity for me to start a new life with my children," said Asri.