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December 13, 2024 | 11:12 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs identified a substantial number of online scam cases involving Indonesian citizens working abroad. However, the Ministry faces challenges in determining whether these cases constitute human trafficking.
Judha Nugraha, Director of Protection of Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted the complexities involved in identifying human trafficking cases within the online gambling and online scam sectors. “It’s very complex that the state must be able to identify who is or is not a victim of human trafficking,” he said during a discussion in Jakarta on Friday, December 13, 2024.
Judha explained that many Indonesian citizens voluntarily seek employment in the online gambling and online scam sectors, driven by the promise of high salaries. “We record that many of our citizens consciously choose to work in these sectors, attracted by the prospect of high salary. So it’s not a human trafficking case as it lacks the element of fraud.”
He highlighted instances of mistreatment, such as physical or psychological abuse, often arise when individuals fail to meet the performance target set by their employers. However, if they achieve their targets, they are often rewarded with high salaries and favorable working conditions. This dynamic adds another layer of complexity to the identification of human trafficking cases.
The complexity is further compounded by the varying legal frameworks governing online gambling and related activities in different countries. Although Law No. 18 of 2017 concerning the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers explicitly prohibits the placement of Indonesian citizens in sectors deemed illegal, such as gambling, these activities may be legally permissible in some countries, including Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia.
“We observe a pattern where Indonesian citizens initially travel to these countries to work in the online gambling sector. But they are then offered employment in online scam operations with the promise of even higher salaries,” Judha said.
Data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reveals that from 2020 to November 2024, a total of 5,111 cases involving Indonesian citizens engaged in online scam activities abroad were reported. However, only 1,290 of these cases were identified as potential cases of human trafficking. “Most cases are in Cambodia, totaling 2,962,” said Judha.
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