According to data provided by the P2MI Ministry, over five million Indonesian migrant workers travelled abroad in 2023 without adhering to legal procedures, leaving them highly vulnerable to labour exploitation and trafficking networks
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs in Indonesia has joined forces with the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI) to enhance cyber surveillance aimed at protecting migrant workers from exploitation and human trafficking.
In a recent press statement, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid announced that her ministry has developed a cyber monitoring system designed to detect websites and social media accounts suspected of engaging in illegal recruitment activities. “The challenge is to accelerate the take-down process,” she noted during a meeting with P2MI Minister Abdul Kadir Karding.
According to data provided by the P2MI Ministry, over five million Indonesian migrant workers travelled abroad in 2023 without adhering to legal procedures, leaving them highly vulnerable to labour exploitation and trafficking networks. Many of these workers were recruited via digital platforms, where illegal agents lured them with promises of high salaries and expedited processes, only to subject them to forced labour, exploitation, or even modern slavery.
Minister Hafid stressed the need for cross-ministerial cooperation to speed up actions against harmful digital content. She also highlighted the importance of preventive measures, revealing that her ministry will focus on improving digital literacy among prospective migrant workers. Awareness campaigns will be rolled out across multiple platforms, including social media, radio, and national television, to ensure information about lawful recruitment channels reaches the public.
“We can also create a digital campaign or public service announcement,” she added, underlining the necessity of proactive communication efforts.
Minister Karding echoed similar concerns, noting that approximately 23 to 27 websites or social media accounts involved in illegal recruitment need to be taken down each month. “Therefore, we build this synergy with the Communication and Digital Affairs Ministry, as mandated by President Prabowo Subianto,” Karding said.
He expressed hope that the collaborative approach would lead to a more comprehensive and effective protection mechanism for Indonesian migrant workers—starting from their pre-departure phase, continuing throughout their employment abroad, and extending to their return home. “The government is committed to utilising digital technology as the main tool in combating cybercrime that threatens the safety of Indonesian migrant workers,” he added.
