Disnaker Update: Beware! Job Offers in These 3 Countries Could End in Tragedy

The Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Abdul Kadir Karding, has urged the public to be cautious of overseas job offers, especially in three Southeast Asian countries—Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. These countries do not have formal labor placement agreements (Memorandums of Understanding/MoUs) with Indonesia. Karding described them as the most extreme destinations due to the high number of exploitation, human trafficking, and even death cases involving Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) placed there through unofficial means. He warned the public not to be lured by promises of high salaries circulated through social media.

One recent and tragic case highlighting this risk involved Rizal Sampurna, a resident of Banyuwangi, who died after working illegally in Cambodia. Rizal was reported to have entered Cambodia via sea from Malaysia and was not officially registered in the government’s labor protection system. Prior to his death, Rizal had contacted his family, stating he was being forced to work under inhumane conditions and even sent a photo showing his hands in handcuffs. His body is currently still in Phnom Penh, while efforts are underway to repatriate it back to Indonesia.

Karding also revealed a growing trend in how illegal recruiters operate. A common tactic involves sending Indonesian workers using tourist visas and unofficial routes via Malaysia or Thailand. These individuals are often recruited online with promises of high pay, only to end up trapped in forced labor, online scams, or other illegal activities. Once abroad, they fall outside the legal protection system, making it extremely difficult for Indonesian authorities to intervene when abuse or exploitation occurs.

In response, the government emphasizes the importance of going through official placement channels when seeking employment abroad. These legal pathways ensure migrant workers receive legal protection, training, certification, and supervision from relevant institutions such as BP2MI (Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency). The government is also working closely with local authorities to strengthen safeguards through education, certification, and accreditation of prospective workers before they are officially deployed overseas.

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Through his statement, Minister Karding called on the public not to be easily swayed by unclear job offers abroad. He stressed that the safety and well-being of Indonesian workers must be the top priority. The government also urges all members of society to play an active role in preventing human trafficking by reporting suspicious job offers and ensuring that all placement processes are conducted through legal, state-approved mechanisms.