The remittances of foreign workers from Germany to their homeland have increased significantly. In the past year, migrants transferred 1.5 billion euros more into their home country than in 2015, reports the "Rheinische Post", citing figures from the Bundesbank. Thus, the sum had grown by a third to a total of 4.6 billion euros.
According to the report, the money was mainly sent to main countries of origin by refugees and European countries, from which especially many migrant workers came to Germany in recent years. Two years ago, Syrian workers transferred 18 million euros home, compared with 152 million euros in 2017.
Also Romanian workers in Germany sent more money to family and friends: There, the sum rose according to the newspaper within two years from 115 million euros to 333 million euros.
Remittances from emigrated citizens play an important role in the economies of many countries. According to the World Bank, their sum is about three times as high as the total development aid.