Semarang (ANTARA) - At least 80,000 Indonesian citizens are reported to be working illegally in Cambodia, according to Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, Abdul Kadir Karding.

“All of these migrant workers are considered illegal because Indonesia has no formal agreement with Cambodia regarding the placement of our workers,” he said in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday.

He confirmed a noticeable increase in the number of Indonesians, particularly from the younger generation, risking their safety by working in Cambodia without adhering to official procedures and regulations.

“Their occupations vary. Some are involved in online gambling operations, others work in restaurants, and some are connected to scamming syndicates. However, the majority are implicated in online gambling and scams,” Karding explained.

He emphasized that most legal issues faced by Indonesian migrant workers abroad involve those who enter destination countries through unofficial channels.

“Traditionally, their destinations were Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Now, we’re seeing a new trend, with more workers heading to Cambodia and Myanmar,” he added.

Karding also revealed that his ministry has received reports of an Indonesian worker's death in Cambodia and is currently working to confirm the victim’s identity.

“We are tracking the worker in question. Since many of these migrants secured employment through illegal means, we have no official records on them,” he said.

The minister noted that his ministry has taken concrete steps to prevent Indonesians from becoming victims of illegal overseas employment, including shutting down unlicensed placement agencies.

“We have temporarily closed three agencies,” he said.

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