“Some 95 to 97 percent of human trafficking victims depart illegally, and West Kalimantan is one of the main origins of illegal migration to Malaysia and other Southeast Asian countries," the minister explained during the Anti-Human Trafficking Declaration here on Friday.
According to Karding, human trafficking victims comprise not only villagers, but also university graduates and entrepreneurs, who are often lured by high salaries.
He said that the P2MI Ministry was established by President Prabowo Subianto as a form of concern for the protection of migrant workers.
He then related the rescue of Wilfreida, an Indonesian from East Nusa Tenggara province. Sentenced to death in Malaysia, Wilfreida was freed thanks to the President’s initiative, he said.
“Protect migrant workers, prevent human trafficking, and increase foreign exchange. Last year, migrant workers contributed Rp253.3 trillion (US$15.4 billion) in foreign exchange, the second highest after oil and gas,” he highlighted.
He also revealed several new human trafficking schemes. Some involve the use of tourist and Umrah visas, while others involve fake job offers through social media, he said. Some Indonesians were also tricked into forced labor and endured violence for years in Myanmar, he added.
“Salaries in Malaysia can reach Rp7 million to Rp11 million, and in Japan, at least Rp25 million. We are not banning overseas work, but it must go through legal channels. Do not gamble your life for the sake of money,” he stressed.
He also noted that the ratio of legal to illegal migrant workers in West Kalimantan remains at 1:3, with 70 identified illegal routes and six main border checkpoints, making the province both strategic and vulnerable.
The central government, he said, supports the construction of shelters for migrant workers in border areas and efforts to enhance education regarding safe migration for local communities.
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Translator: Rendra, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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