Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian migrant workers are prohibited from working in Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar, considering the many cases of human trafficking recorded in those three Southeast Asian countries, a minister said.
“It is not just an appeal, but I reiterate that all Indonesians are prohibited from working in those three countries as they are prone to human trafficking,” Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding, said here on Friday.
Considering that Indonesia does not have any cooperation agreement in place with the three countries regarding the placement of migrant workers, Indonesians who are currently working in those countries have illegal status, he added.
“Those (Indonesians) who are working in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand are considered as unprocedural or illegal (workers),” he expounded.
He said that in Cambodia and Myanmar, especially the Myawaddy region, there have been indications of scamming and online gambling crimes.
Karding repeatedly emphasized that the government has never pursued bilateral or multilateral cooperation for the placement of Indonesian workers in Cambodia and Myanmar.
On March 18, 2025, the ministry assisted in overseeing the repatriation of 554 non-procedural migrant workers who fell victim to human trafficking in Myawaddy, Myanmar.
The repatriation of the Indonesian workers, consisting of 449 men and 105 women, took place in two stages; 400 people were sent home on March 18 and 154 people on March 19.
Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar off-limits for Indonesian workers: govt
Sabtu, 29 Maret 2025 3:49 WIB
