Ministry of Immigration and Corrections
Directorate General of Immigration
NHA TRANG, VIETNAM - The protection of migrant workers from the risks of human trafficking must be a primary concern, given their significant contribution to quality and inclusive economic growth in ASEAN. The statement was conveyed by the Indonesian Director General of Immigration, Silmy Karim, at the 27th Meeting of ASEAN Director-Generals of Immigration Departments and Heads of Consular Affairs Division of The Ministries of Foreign Affairs (DGICM) in Nha Trang - Vietnam, 14 August 2024.
"Indonesia, with its large population, is an easy target for human trafficking syndicates in ASEAN, where more than 85% of its victims are smuggled into, from, and within the region," said Silmy.
During 2020-2023, there are 2,434 cases of individuals related to online scams were recorded, which were handled by Indonesian Representative Offices in the Southeast Asia Region, including Cambodia with 1,233 Indonesians, Myanmar with 205, the Philippines with 469, Laos with 276, Thailand with 187, Vietnam with 34, and Malaysia 30. This number has increased sharply compared to the previous year. In 2021, 116 cases were recorded from Cambodia, and 77 cases in Myanmar. Cambodia is the country with the most cases in Southeast Asia, with an increase in the number of cases of up to 8 times.
The new method of human trafficking cases involving Indonesian citizens is an online fraud scheme (online scamming) such as fraud investments, love scams, money laundering, and others. The victims are recruited and then trapped by promises of lucrative jobs in neighbouring countries but end up in exploitation.
Forms of labour exploitation experienced include long working hours, taking possession of victims' documents by force, excessive fines, mobility and communication restrictions as threats and acts of violence by companies against Indonesian citizens.
"The President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr. Joko Widodo, has specifically instructed law enforcement officers to prevent and eradicate transnational crimes such as human trafficking from Indonesia to foreign countries. In this case, the Directorate General of Immigration is trying to prevent and eradicate human smuggling through regional and international cooperation," he continued.
Cooperation among ASEAN member countries has contributed significantly to efforts to repatriate Indonesian citizens who are victims of human trafficking. In 2022, around 484 Indonesian citizens were repatriated from Cambodia, including 202 by charter plane and 23 Indonesian citizens from Laos. In July 2023, 10 Indonesian citizens were repatriated from Cambodia with the assistance of the Cambodian Government, while 26 other Indonesian citizens were repatriated from Myanmar with the help of the Indonesian Embassy in Yangon after being suspected of being victims of human trafficking. It did not stop there; on 26 June 2023, Indonesian Immigration, together with the Philippine Government, conducted a rescue operation for 137 Indonesian citizens who were trapped in an online fraud company.
"We hope that DGICM, especially the ASEAN Head of Special Unit on People Smuggling forum, will be beneficial in resolving problems in the ASEAN region, especially the problem of human smuggling," concluded the Director General of Immigration.
This forum agreed on four documents that became new guidelines proposed by Laos as the chair of the AMMTC (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime) and SOMTC (Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime) to improve coordination and cooperation mechanisms in combating transnational crime in the ASEAN region.
The meeting also decided that the 28th DGICM would be held in Brunei Darussalam. The Land of the Sultans has expressed its readiness to host it in 2025.
Last updated 16 November 2024
