Saving Indonesian Citizens In Cambodia Is Proof That The State Is Serious In Fighting Modern Slavery

Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) Fadjar Dwi Wishnuwardhani. (KSP photo)

JAKARTA - The Presidential Staff Office expresses its appreciation to all parties, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) and the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia for rescuing 62 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) victims of fraud and confinement in Cambodia.

The Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Fadjar Dwi Whisnuwardhani, emphasized that the government's quick and effective efforts to rescue PMIs in Cambodia are proof that the country has never tolerated any form of trafficking in persons and modern slavery.

"The rescue process shows that the state is present and the state is not defeated by the efforts made by certain parties who intend to harm Indonesian citizens," said Fadjar, at the Bina Graha building, Jakarta, Friday 5 August.

For information, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Cambodia recently rescued 62 PMIs who had been held captive in Cambodia, and were victims of fraud because of the job opportunities offered. This bogus job is accompanied by the lure of a salary of 1000-1500 dollars or if it is converted into 15-22 million rupiah.

After the PMIs leave and arrive at a company in Cambodia, they work not as marketing but as operators of fraudulent and fraudulent investments. In addition, PMIs are not paid the salary they are offered, are not working according to working hours or overwork, and migrant workers' passports are withheld by agents in Phnom Penh.

"This case is suspected to be part of modern slavery or human trafficking," said Fadjar.

"The government is sure to take firm action against the games of unscrupulous individuals and syndicates as well as violations that occur," he said.

Fadjar said, Cambodia is one of the countries that has recently become a hotbed for the Crime of Trafficking in Persons (TPPO), including from Indonesia. To that end, KSP encourages the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate the legal protections for PMIs in Cambodia, and tighten the placement process.

"KSP invites the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make a bilateral agreement with the Cambodian side so that cases like this can be resolved in cooperation to protect the two countries," he said.

Fadjar also emphasized the importance of establishing an active, responsive, and integrated protocol across all lines to close advertisements, vacancies, and overseas job placement offers that are proven to contain elements of fraud. Moreover, he said, similar cases with different modes have occurred. So it is necessary to strengthen the coordination aspect in its handling.

"We (KSP) also urge PMI candidates to be more careful in responding to offers and job placement advertisements abroad, don't be tempted by offers that are not yet clear," Fadjar urged.

For information, as many as 16 of the 62 Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) who are victims of confinement in Cambodia will return to the country via Soekarno-Hatta Airport (Soeta) Tangerang, Banten on Friday, August 5.

In accordance with the standard operating procedures of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all Indonesians who are victims of human trafficking will undergo questions according to the screening form for identification of victims of human trafficking before being deported to Indonesia.