Indonesia has helped its migrant workers reclaim approximately $13 million in unpaid wages, insurance, and compensation in 2024, marking a significant increase from the previous year’s $6 million. The Foreign Affairs Ministry played a key role in securing these funds for Indonesians working abroad, many of whom face wage abuses, delayed payments, or even complete non-payment.
According to Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Arrmanatha Nasir, around 23.6% of the recovered funds were unpaid wages, while 22.1% accounted for compensation and 13.9% for insurance claims. The ministry noted that most unpaid wage cases involved Indonesians working in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, though specific countries were not disclosed.
In addition to wage recovery, Indonesia resolved 55,984 out of 62,120 “general cases” affecting its citizens overseas. These include visa misuse and overstays but exclude human trafficking and emergencies like armed conflicts or natural disasters. Employment-related issues made up 23.3% of these resolved cases.
The Migrant Worker Protection Ministry reported that 295,439 Indonesians were officially sent abroad for work in 2024, with domestic workers (33.7%) and caregivers (17.5%) being the most common professions. Hong Kong emerged as the top destination, receiving 53,608 Indonesian workers. However, despite these legal placements, an estimated 5.4 million Indonesians are believed to be working abroad illegally, exposing them to heightened risks of exploitation.