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Working abroad safely: official P2MI channels and how to avoid trafficking

Working abroad can open up big opportunities for income and experience. Unfortunately, this route is also often exploited by human trafficking syndicates. Many victims leave with good intentions, then end up trapped in workplaces far from what they were promised.

Resmi.ID Team · 4 min read · Updated 29 Oct 2026

Article illustration: Working abroad safely: official P2MI channels and how to avoid trafficking

Photo: Cameron Cox / Unsplash

Indonesia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) recorded 6,800 cases of Indonesian citizens caught up in online scams from 2020 to February 2025, most of them in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Myanmar. According to Kemlu, most of these cases showed indications of human trafficking (TPPO).

The most common schemes

Very high pay for "admin", "customer service", or "operator" jobs with no special qualifications required.
Recruitment through social media or acquaintances, with no office or clear company name.
Travelling on a visit or tourist visa rather than a work visa.
The destination is first said to be one country, such as Thailand, and then you're taken across the border to another.
No written employment agreement before departure, or a contract only handed over on arrival.
Your passport is "kept" by the recruiter or company after you arrive.

If an offer asks you to travel on a tourist visa to work, that's a major red flag. Don't go. Legitimate migrant workers depart with proper documents and the correct work visa.

Basic requirements for official migrant workers

Law 18/2017 on the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers sets the basic requirements for prospective migrant workers: at least 18 years old, competent, physically and mentally healthy, registered with a social security membership number, and holding the required documents.

Official placement is done through licensed placement companies (P3MI) or government schemes. Migrant worker protection is now coordinated by the Ministry of Indonesian Migrant Worker Protection (KP2MI), formerly known as BP2MI.

How to check an agency and destination country

1Open the official SISKOP2MIMake sure it's a government domain starting with https.
2Check the destinationSee the destination country menu and job requirements.
3Search the P3MI nameType the company name into the P3MI list and confirm it's active.
4Match the jobMake sure the role and country in the offer match official data.
5Ask your local officeConfirm with your district/city manpower office.
6Ask for the contractRead the employment agreement before leaving and keep a copy.

If the agency's name isn't found or isn't active, it probably has no official licence. Don't hand over original documents or money to an agent like that. Also watch out for copycat sites that imitate government sites; type the address yourself rather than clicking a link a recruiter sends you in a chat.

About fees

Be wary of recruiters who ask for a large sum up front, especially into a personal bank account. Placement cost components are regulated by the government, and for certain occupations some costs may not be charged to the worker. Ask your local manpower office or KP2MI's official channels for the official cost breakdown before paying anything, and always ask for a receipt in the company's name.

Questions you must ask

What is the name of the overseas employer, and in which city is it located?
What visa will be used, and who is arranging it?
What are the pay, working hours, and days off under the employment agreement?
Which costs does the worker pay, and are there official receipts in the company's name?
How do I contact the Indonesian mission in the destination country if there's a problem?

An honest recruiter will answer these clearly and in writing. If you're pressured to leave right away, told to keep the plan secret from your family, or the answers keep changing, stop the process.

Before you leave

Scan your passport, visa, employment agreement, and ID card, and store them in email or cloud storage.
Share your travel plan, the company name, and destination address with your family.
Save the contact details of the Indonesian embassy or consulate (KBRI/KJRI) in the destination country.
Agree on a regular check-in schedule with your family, for example every two days.
Attend the official orientation and briefing before departure.

If you're already trapped

Contact the nearest Indonesian mission, or ask your family to report to Kemlu and KP2MI. Families can also report to the police if there are signs of trafficking. Keep all chat records, the recruiter's name, and transfer receipts, because this information helps rescue and enforcement.

Bear in mind that Kemlu has also stressed that Indonesians who take part in running online scams can be prosecuted as perpetrators, not just treated as victims. That's why preventing departure through unofficial channels is far safer.

Overseas jobs on KarirResmi

On KarirResmi, applicants are never charged a fee. Job ads with scam patterns, including suspicious overseas job offers, are detected and held before they go live. If you find one that slipped through, use the Report button so our team can review it.

A simple rule: no work visa, no written employment agreement, and an unregistered agency mean don't go, no matter how tempting the salary.

References

This information is general. For important decisions, check the latest rules at official sources or consult the relevant authorities.

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