Jakarta. Indonesia’s government has urged its citizens not to fall for job offers in Cambodia, warning that the Southeast Asian nation is not a legal destination for Indonesian migrant workers and remains a hotspot for human trafficking and online scam syndicates.

Chief Community Empowerment Minister Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar said Monday that Cambodia is “not a safe place for our migrant workers” and that any employment offers involving work in the country are illegal.

“We continue to campaign and raise awareness that Cambodia is not an official destination for Indonesian migrant workers,” Muhaimin told reporters in Jakarta. He added that Indonesia has yet to sign any bilateral agreement with Cambodia that guarantees the protection and rights of Indonesian workers.

According to government estimates, more than 100,000 Indonesians are currently working in Cambodia, both in formal and informal sectors, with many in the food and service industry. Muhaimin said Indonesian cuisine has become increasingly common there, reflecting the growing number of Indonesians who have settled in Cambodian cities.

Despite the warning, the government said it would continue to protect citizens who have already taken up work in Cambodia. Coordination is ongoing among the Agency for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BP2MI), the Foreign Ministry, and the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh to ensure their safety.

“If they are already there, systematic protection efforts must be made by BP2MI and all relevant sectors,” Muhaimin said. He added that the embassy in Phnom Penh has opened communication channels and assistance services for workers facing difficulties.

The warning comes amid growing concern over Indonesian nationals becoming trapped in cybercrime networks in Cambodia. Last week, Foreign Minister Sugiono said at least 110 Indonesians had escaped from online scam syndicates operating in the country. However, not all have agreed to return home, citing personal reasons.

“We continue to assist them, but some prefer to stay after receiving help. The government cannot force repatriation,” Sugiono said.

Cambodia, along with Myanmar, has been identified as a regional hub for transnational online fraud operations, where victims are lured by fake job offers and later forced to work in scam centers targeting global victims.

Perpetrators typically lure foreign workers with offers of legitimate employment, only to detain them and force them to work in online scam centers.

In July, Cambodian authorities arrested more than 1,000 suspects, including hundreds of Indonesian nationals, in a major crackdown on cyber fraud networks. According to an Associated Press report, at least 270 Indonesians, including 45 women, were detained in Poipet, a border town notorious for cyber scams and gambling operations.

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