JAKARTA - Member of Commission IX of the House of Representatives, Nurhadi, highlighted the case of three Indonesian citizens (WNI) suspected of robbery in Japan. The three of them are known to be part-time Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) whose visas have run out or are illegal.
Nurhadi assessed that this case is a warning to the state not to let its citizens work abroad without education and supervision. According to him, there are still many gaps in the supervision of PMI so that it needs to be improved by the government.
"The case of Indonesian citizens who are the perpetrators of the robbery in Japan is not just a matter of crime, this is a strong alarm for the country! This case is a reflection of the Government's supervision of PMI, there are still many holes," Nurhadi told reporters, Tuesday, July 8.
"Don't let our people go abroad without protection, without education, and without supervision," he continued.
Nurhadi highlighted the status of the three Indonesian citizens who are part-time workers whose visas have run out. He was surprised that the Government could concede with the delivery of illegal migrant workers abroad.
"If there is still the practice of sending illegal migrant workers, then we will fail completely as a country to protect citizens," said Nurhadi.
He also asked the Ministry of Manpower, the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be responsible for this case. Nurhadi urged the Government to fix the system and supervision of sending Indonesian workers abroad.
"I ask the Ministry of Manpower, KP2MI, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be responsible, not only by clarifying, but by improving the system from upstream to downstream," said the member of the Commission in the DPR in charge of employment affairs.
In addition, Nurhadi also asked the relevant ministries to conduct a thorough audit of all PMI recruitment and delivery routes.
He emphasized that education for PMI must be carried out before departing, as well as imposing sanctions on illegal migrant workers.
"Who facilitates the departure of workers without a work visa? Who is closing their eyes? The authorities must investigate thoroughly, and those involved must be punished!" said Nurhadi.
"The solution is not just an appeal. The government must require pre-departure education, obligatory understanding of the law of the destination country, and strengthen legal cooperation with the destination country to protect and at the same time take action against illegal PMIs," continued the NasDem legislator.
On the other hand, Nurhadi hopes that the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and KP2MI can also emphasize PMI candidates regarding the legal understanding of destination countries, work contracts, and restrictions on residence permits to prevent violations. Moreover, the case of 3 Indonesian citizens acting in Japan is not the first time.
Last year, information circulated on social media a group of Indonesian citizens forming a kind of 'TKI gang' in Japan. However, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that no findings had proven the news.
"This case reminds us again that there needs to be stricter supervision of PMI recruitment, as well as firm action against individuals who trade or smuggle labor abroad," said Nurhadi.
"Moreover, the culture and habits of the Japanese people are also different from Indonesia. So the understanding of this cultural difference also needs to be improved, so that bad events do not continue to repeat themselves," he concluded.
As reported, the three Indonesian citizens suspected of robbery in Japan are PMIs who are also known to have violated their residence permit or overstayer. It is not yet known exactly their motivation to rob a local resident's house located in Aoyaki, Hokota, on January 2, 2025 ago. Even though it happened at the beginning of last year, the three were only arrested by the Hokota Police, Ibaraki, on June 30, 2025.
Currently, the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) of Tokyo has provided assistance to the three Indonesian citizens who are now detained by the Japanese police.
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