Pengertian Hawala Remittance System

Remittance system seperti yang kita ketahui adalah sistem keuangan yang melayani jasa pengiriman dan penerimaan uang secara cepat dan mudah, baik dalam maupun luar negeri. Sistem pengiriman uang ini dapat kita jumpai di bank, Western Union, atau Kantor Pos, dan banyak perusahaan keuangan lainnya yang menyediakan jasa pengiriman uang ini.

Kemudian apakah perbedaannya antara remittance system diatas dengan alternative remittance system dalam hal ini adalah hawala? Hawala dikenal sebagai Alternative Remittance System (Informal Funds Transfer system/Informal Value Transfer System), atau media alternatif dalam pengiriman uang. Hawala beroperasi diluar sistem keuangan formal. Namun, pada prinsipnya hawala dan remittance system lainnya memiliki tujuan dan fungsi yang sama yaitu melayani jasa pengiriman dan penerimaan uang secara cepat, mudah, dan murah, dari dalam maupun ke luar negeri.

Mengenai definisi hawala remittance system, Mohammed El-Qorchi menyatakan bahwa: “the hawala system refers to an informal channel for transferring funds from one location to another through service providers known as hawaladars regardless of the nature of the transaction and the countries involved. While hawala transactions are mostly initiated by emigrant workers living in a developed country, the hawala system can also be used to send funds from a developing country, even though the purpose of the funds transfer is usually different (David C. Faith, 2011 : 24).”

Jamwal menyatakan bahwa: “hawala is a system through which money is transferred from one part of the world to another without following the normal banking channels”. Kemudian lebih jauh Jamwal menyatakan bahwa: “the hawala system is, “in fact, an unauthorized underground banking system used by people from different walks of life, for a variety of reasons (David C. Faith, 2011 : 24).”

Dalam sebuah laporan yang dikeluarkan oleh Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) yang berkerja sama dengan INTERPOL pada tahun 2000, hawala diartikan sebagai: An alternative or parallel remittance system. It exists and operates outside of, or parallel to ‘traditional’ banking or financial channels. It was developed in India, before the introduction of western banking practices, and is currently a major remittance system used around the world. These systems are often referred to as ‘underground banking’; this term is not always correct, as they often operate in the open with complete legitimacy, and these services are often heavily and effectively advertised (Patrick M. Jost dan Harjit Singh Sandhu, 2000 : 5).

Disebutkan juga bahwa sistem atau komponen penting dari hawala remittance system yang membedakannya dari sistem pengiriman uang formal lainnya adalah bahwa: The components of hawala that distinguish it from other remittance systems are trust and the extensive use of connections such as family relationships or regional affiliations. Unlike traditional banking or even the ‘chop’ system, hawala makes minimal (often no) use of any sort of negotiable instrument. Transfers of money take place based on communications between members of a network of hawaladars, or hawala dealers (Patrick M. Jost dan Harjit Singh Sandhu, 2000 : 5).

Referensi:

1. David C. Faith. 2011. The Hawala System. Global Security Studies. Volume 2. Issue 1.
2. Patrick M. Jost dan Harjit Singh Sandhu. 2000. The Hawala Alternative Remittance System and its Role in Money Laundering. Prepared by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network in cooperation with INTERPOL/FOPAC.