Jakarta. Migrant Worker Protection Minister Abdul Kadir Karding has issued a warning to influencers and content creators not to carelessly spread information related to Indonesian migrant workers, especially on social media.

This statement was made following the wide circulation of false information involving Indonesian citizens in Japan. One such rumor claimed that the Japanese government was planning to blacklist Indonesian migrant workers as a result of a criminal case involving three Indonesian nationals in Japan.

Abdul firmly said that the information is false. He warned that such carelessness could jeopardize the future of thousands of prospective Indonesian migrant workers.

“Please, fellow influencers, understand the impact of what you're posting. It's not just about image -- it could change Japan’s willingness to employ Indonesians. Don’t let three individuals cause harm to hundreds of thousands of current and future migrant workers, especially when the content being shared is factually incorrect,” Abdul said on Wednesday.

He reiterated that the claim about Japan planning to ban Indonesian migrant workers is entirely untrue.

“That information is a hoax -- the result of influencers uploading misleading news like that,” he said.

He added that his office has already discussed the recent robbery case involving three Indonesian nationals in Japan with the Japanese government.

“We’ve coordinated with the Japanese authorities and the Indonesian Embassy there to ensure that this case involving three individuals doesn’t lead to generalizations about all Indonesians,” Abdul Kadir added.

He also said that his ministry is urging the Japanese government to take firm legal action against the perpetrators, as their actions have damaged the reputation of both the nation and Indonesian migrant workers.

“Those three people are not migrant workers -- one is an intern, and the others are regular Indonesian citizens (tourists). We are encouraging legal proceedings in Japan against them. We will not defend them,” he stressed.

To mitigate the impact of the case and the misleading news surrounding it, Abdul Kadir said his ministry has also been coordinating with the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

According to Abdul, there are currently around 10 million Indonesian migrant workers spread across various countries, with the potential to earn between Rp 20 to 30 million per month.

The sectors with the highest demand for Indonesian labor include plantations, construction, hospitality, elderly care, as well as computer operators and welders. He noted there are as many as 147 types of overseas job opportunities available.