JAKARTA - Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, seriously highlighted the case of the death of 7 migrant workers (PMI) from North Sumatra (North Sumatra) in Cambodia throughout 2025. According to her, this incident is a reminder that the protection system for migrant workers still needs to be improved and strengthened.
"The data from North Sumatra is just one example. We believe that there are many other areas that face similar problems. This shows that our protection system needs to be fully strengthened," said Puan in her statement, Friday, October 17.
Puan reminded that the practice of human trafficking and labor exploitation is now increasingly complex, especially with the emergence of new modes that utilize digital technology. He also highlighted that many PMI candidates who were promised that legal work would experience tragic fate, ranging from passport detention, salary payment uncertainty, to severe work pressure.
"Every life lost due to this practice is clear evidence that the state must be present optimally to protect its citizens. We can no longer wait for reports or cases to go viral before acting," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.
Puan also emphasized the need for integrated steps ranging from recording and monitoring prospective migrant workers, strict supervision of channeling agents, to readiness of consular services to provide legal assistance and rehabilitation for victims. In addition, according to her, education and anti-TPPO campaigns and online fraud must be intensified, especially in areas with high unemployment rates.
"The protection of migrant workers is not only the task of one ministry or institution, but also a shared responsibility that must be supported by cross-sectoral coordination and regional cooperation," explained Puan.
TIP practices must be dealt with firmly, and anticipated as early as possible. Law enforcement against human trafficking syndicates, especially those operating across countries, must be a priority," he added.
Puan also assessed that the incident experienced by PMI from North Sumatra must be a momentum for rearranging the migrant worker protection system, so that every Indonesian citizen who works abroad can feel safe, protected, and get their full rights.
"The state must be present from upstream to downstream, starting from public education, supervision of distribution agents, assistance in destination countries, to repatriation and rehabilitation of victims. We must not allow the lives of our citizens to be lost in the hands of criminal syndicates," concluded Puan.
Previously, the introduction of a work expert from the North Sumatra Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection Service Center (BP3MI), Sumarni Sinambela, revealed that the number of North Sumatra residents who died in Cambodia reached seven people from January to October 2025.
"There are 7 people from January to October 2025," Sumarni told the media.
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The victims were previously known to have left for overseas via non-procedural channels and were involved in work that was not in accordance with the initial information received. They are suspected of being victims of the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO).
Meanwhile, the protection staff of BP3MI North Sumatra, Mianhot Pandiangan, said that Cambodia is not a country for the placement of official workers and reminded people not to be tempted by the lure of illegal jobs abroad.
Then data from the Directorate of Protection for Indonesian Citizens and Foreign Ministry noted that there were 7,027 cases of online fraud from 2021 to February 2025, some of which triggered the occurrence of criminal acts of trafficking in persons.
In the same period, 1,508 cases indicated TIP with 92 deaths in the last three months and North Sumatra and West Java became the two provinces with the highest number.
North Sumatra contributed about 23 percent of cases while West Java recorded around 19 percent. The data shows that these two regions are still easy targets of cross-border illegal employment networks.
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