A/HRC/4/24/Add.3 page 10 Remittances have grown steadily over the past three decades and constitute the single largest source of foreign exchange, exceeding export revenues and foreign direct investment.13 Government policies on labour migration are mainly concerned with reducing local unemployment - which according to unofficial sources stands at around 40 per cent14 - and as such its policies have focused more on facilitating the outflow of migrant labour, rather than setting up protection mechanisms. Thus, Indonesian migrants, whose labour greatly benefits the economy, remain underprotected in foreign countries and are subject to abusive practices at all three stages of the migration process: in the pre-departure phase, while working abroad, and upon their return. 31. Indonesia views labour migration as a means of addressing domestic unemployment, generating foreign exchange and promoting economic growth. The emergence of unregulated “labour export businesses” is facilitated by the current political transition. 32. The fact that several million Indonesians have benefited, and continue to benefit, from international labour migration in no way justifies the exploitation and abuse of many others. Protective mechanisms should be in place to help ensure that all migrants have guarantees of migration in safety and dignity. 33. High-profile cases of abuse of migrant domestic workers in receiving countries have prompted some national-level reforms. Currently, the pronounced visibility of Indonesian migrant workers has led to moves to legalize irregular departures from Indonesia. B. International protection framework 34. The Government of Indonesia through its Plan of Action is making significant efforts to prioritize its commitments to human rights. Its recent ratification of the main core conventions is a concrete step towards achieving this aim. The ratification of CMW is said to be a priority in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs Second National Plan of Action of Human Rights (2004-2009). During his meeting with the Special Rapporteur, the Minister for Foreign Affairs personally pledged Indonesia’s commitment to expedite the process of ratification. 35. While Indonesia has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) (1984), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990), the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1998), the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (1999), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (2006) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (2006), the main issue now is the implementation of their provisions. 13 See: www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/irb/2005/eng/04/index.pdf. 14 Cf. ksghome.harvard.edu/~drodrik/nuts.pdf.