Weak Oversight Seen as Trigger in Cambodia Trafficking Cases

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta: Deputy Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives’ Commission IX Nihayatul Wafiroh has said that the surge in human trafficking cases involving Indonesians sent to Cambodia stems from weak oversight of migrant worker placements. 

She noted that most victims depart through non-procedural channels after being lured by promises of high-paying jobs.

Nihayatul, who is widely known as Ninik, said the same pattern has continued to repeat without being adequately addressed, leaving victims outside the state protection system from the moment they leave Indonesia.

“Data from the Indonesian Ministry of Migrant Worker Protection (P2MI) over the past few years shows that most victims of human trafficking in Cambodia come from non-procedural channels and are not covered by the national protection system,” Ninik said in a text message to rri.co.id on Sunday, February 1, 2026.

She said the data strongly indicated that supervision has not functioned effectively at multiple levels, including regional administrations, licensing, recommendations, and education for prospective migrant workers. 

Ninik added that oversight also extends to digital platforms that advertise illegal overseas jobs, as well as to law enforcement efforts against brokers and local recruiters.

“This shows that supervision has not been effective at the regional government level, including permits, recommendations, and education for prospective Indonesian migrant workers,” she said. “This also includes digital platforms that carry illegal job advertisements, as well as law enforcement against brokers and local recruiters.”

Ninik stressed that the House of Representatives has evaluated the government’s handling of the issue and concluded that the core problem does not lie in the absence of regulations.

“Regulations are already in place, including Law No. 18/2017, but implementation and on-the-ground supervision remain weak and fragmented across ministries and agencies,” she said.

She urged the government to strengthen cross-sector coordination to ensure comprehensive protection for migrant workers and emphasized that upstream prevention is crucial to breaking human trafficking networks.

Ninik added that the House would continue to oversee efforts to strengthen supervision of Indonesian migrant worker placements, which she described as essential to preventing people from falling into illegal recruitment practices that lead to exploitation.

Separately, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sugiono said a comprehensive approach was needed to address cases involving Indonesians in Cambodia who have fallen victim to fraudulent job offers. He said the issue must be tackled from the earliest stages, starting with job seekers in their local communities.

“This effort must be carried out comprehensively. There must be outreach, verification of whether overseas job vacancies are genuine or fraudulent, and checks on track records,” Minister Sugiono said during a meeting with House Commission I on June 30, 2025.

Minister Sugiono also stressed that not all Indonesians traveling to Cambodia are victims of human trafficking, noting that several different methods are involved, with most cases linked to online scam operations in Cambodia or Myanmar.​ (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)​