Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister for the Protection of Migrant Workers (P2MI) Mukhtarudin has warned prospective migrant workers of a human trafficking scheme involving coercive letters used to intimidate families into approving illegal overseas placement. 

The scheme targets workers seeking jobs abroad, including to countries under official placement moratoriums, by using documents that threaten legal consequences.

“Any statement letter used to legitimize illegal migrant worker placement is null and void under the law, and the public should not be intimidated by such threats,” Minister Mukhtarudin said on Saturday (3/1/2026), as cited by antaranews.com.

He explained that the letters, often disguised as spousal or guardian consent forms, contain clauses forcing families to waive their right to pursue legal action against brokers. 

The minister stressed that non-procedural placement, especially for domestic workers, constitutes a criminal offense. His ministry has instructed its protection directorate to work with the Indonesian National Police (INP)’s anti-trafficking task force to crack down on illegal agents and trace digital distribution of the documents.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)