Indonesian Govt Calls for Thorough Response to Job Scams in Cambodia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono stated that the issue resolution concerning Indonesian citizens in Cambodia who have fallen victim to job scams must be handled comprehensively. Sugiono said these cases must be addressed from the source to the job seekers in their respective locations.

"This effort must be carried out comprehensively," said Sugiono during a meeting at the House of Commission I on Monday, June 30, 2025. "There must be socialization when filling job vacancies abroad, verifying their authenticity, and checking their track records."

Sugiono emphasized that not all Indonesian citizens traveling to Cambodia are victims of human trafficking. There are several modus operandi, most related to online scams in Cambodia or Myanmar.

Since 2021, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recorded 7600 cases related to online scams. Cambodia has the highest number, with 4300 cases, followed by Myanmar with 1110. Of this total, 1508 cases are related to human trafficking.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has provided various information on official websites and apps for socialization. Sugiono mentioned that he has requested the assistance of Commission I to oversee constituents who have become victims in their respective areas. However, this politician from the Gerindra Party revealed the phenomenon of repeat offenders or individuals who repeatedly become involved in these cases.

Previously, Subdirectorate III of the Directorate of Women and Children's Protection, Eradication of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO) at the National Police Headquarters, together with the Special Soekarno-Hatta Airport Immigration Office, thwarted the departure of 98 Indonesian citizens suspected of being victims of human trafficking. This prevention took place from June 1-25, 2025.

These dozens of Indonesian citizens were departing as illegal migrant workers. "Their destinations were Eastern countries such as Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, and Malaysia. All procedures were non-procedural," said Johanes Fanny Satria Cahya Aprianto, Head of the Special Soekarno-Hatta Airport Immigration Office, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

According to Fanny, these dozens of non-procedural migrant workers were departing abroad without following the government's official procedures. "Their modus operandi made it seem as if they were traveling independently or being facilitated by relatives and acquaintances already abroad," said Fanny.

During today's meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the House of Commission I, Nurul Arifin, raised the issue of job scams targeting Indonesian citizens in Cambodia. This foreign affairs legislator expressed disbelief at this phenomenon among educated young individuals.

"How could online gambling administrators fall victim to scams?" said Nurul. "How could we be so careless and allow our fellow citizens to be trapped in Cambodia, Myanmar, and elsewhere?"

Nurul asked Sugiono what steps the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is taking to reduce these incidents. This Golkar Party politician also questioned the contribution of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in educating young people about the potential for job scams abroad.

Separately, Amnesty International found Indonesian citizens among hundreds of victims of slavery, human trafficking, and abuse in Cambodia. In its latest report, "I Was Someone Else's Property," the organization interviewed an Indonesian citizen and 57 citizens of other countries who allegedly experienced human rights violations in online scamming compounds.

Amnesty International conducted direct and remote interviews with 58 survivors from scamming compounds in Cambodia. The survivors came from seven countries: 24 from Thailand, 20 from China, six from Malaysia, three from Bangladesh, two from Vietnam, one from Indonesia, one from Taiwan, and one from Ethiopia.

The survivors reported being detained in 31 different scamming compounds, spread across 16 cities in Cambodia. 18 survivors reported being detained in more than one compound.

Editor's Choice: Amnesty Urges Indonesia to Press Cambodia on Online Scam Slavery Investigation

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