Minister Mukhtarudin Vows Swift Repatriation of Indonesians Rescued from Cambodian Scam Network
Jakarta. The Indonesian government is preparing to repatriate 110 citizens who recently escaped from an online scam syndicate in Cambodia, Minister for Migrant Worker Protection Mukhtarudin said on Thursday.
He confirmed that his ministry is coordinating closely with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Cambodian authorities to expedite the process.
“We will bring them home as soon as possible, depending on the outcome of coordination between Cambodian authorities and our Foreign Ministry, which holds diplomatic jurisdiction,” Mukhtarudin said at his office in Jakarta.
The rescued Indonesians are currently under the care of Cambodian authorities, assisted by officials from both Indonesian ministries.
“Our staff members are already in Cambodia, providing supervision and assistance,” Mukhtarudin added.
Earlier this week, the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh reported that dozens of Indonesian nationals in Chrey Thum City, Kandal Province, revolted against their employers after realizing they had been forced to work in online scam operations under harsh and coercive conditions.
New Training Initiative for Migrant Workers
In a separate development, Minister Mukhtarudin announced plans to launch a specialized training initiative for Indonesians seeking overseas employment.
The program, called Garuda Migran Indonesia, aims to improve the competitiveness of Indonesian workers and enable them to access high-value and skilled professions abroad.
The plan was discussed during a meeting with executives from B-Universe Media Holdings, led by Executive Chairman Enggartiasto Lukita, at the ministry’s Jakarta office.
“We received many valuable suggestions and discussed several future initiatives -- including the technical and conceptual framework for the Garuda Migran program,” Mukhtarudin said after the meeting.
He stressed that collaboration with media organizations could play a key role in educating the public on safe migration practices and in empowering potential workers.
“In terms of education, we will collaborate with B-Universe as one of our key stakeholders to help inform the public about how to work abroad safely,” he said.
Mukhtarudin added that the ongoing discussions also focused on strengthening vocational training programs designed to promote empowerment and protection for Indonesian migrant workers.
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