Inp.polri.go.id - Yogyakarta.  Christina Aryani, the Deputy Minister of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI), revealed that there has been a growing trend of Indonesian migrant workers leaving the country through non-procedural means, often using tourist visas.

She noted that the number of such cases continues to increase over time. 

However, the Ministry of P2MI does not have accurate data on the exact number of non-procedural migrant workers, particularly those heading to countries like Cambodia and Myanmar, as they are often sent through unofficial channels.

"We don't have valid data. The immigration passage for Indonesians leaving can be under the guise of tourists, making it difficult to distinguish their true destination," Deputy Minister Christina explained on Tuesday (10/12/2024).

She pointed out that many of these illegal workers are recruited through social media platforms, where they are drawn in by job offers. These workers, primarily young people, often make impulsive decisions to leave without verifying the legitimacy of the job advertisements.

"The recruitment is done secretly, with the destination countries not being disclosed. They are told it's Thailand or the Philippines, countries that serve as gateways to places like Myanmar or Cambodia," Deputy Minister Christina added, as quoted by antaranews.com.

These workers, especially those working illegally in Cambodia and Myanmar, are also at a higher risk of falling victim to human trafficking. 

Deputy Minister Christina emphasized that once they are employed under illegal conditions, repatriating them from conflict zones, particularly Myanmar, is a complex and delicate process.

To prevent further incidents, she urged the public to verify job offers via social media with the Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP3MI) in each province before making any decisions.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)