Prevention of Human Trafficking Requires the Role of the Business Sector

Between 2020 and May 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handled a total of 2,438 cases of Indonesian citizens who were caught in the online fraud industry. The business sector can help technology-based prevention.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.

ARSIP PRIBADI

Indonesian migrant workers who experienced job scams in Cambodia are in the company dormitory in the city of Sihanoukville. They hope to be repatriated to Indonesia soon and receive their wages.

DENPASAR, KOMPAS - The prevention of human trafficking crimes or TPPO requires the participation of the business sector. In addition to ensuring that their entire supply chain is free from exploitation of humans, entrepreneurs with their resources can also help in prevention efforts together with the government and other stakeholders, including those related to the use of technology.

The reason is that human trafficking perpetrators are increasingly innovative in utilizing technological advances, one of which is through tricking victims into online scams. This scheme is currently rampant in Southeast Asia. "Profit should not be gained by sacrificing human rights and dignity," said Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi at the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023, on Thursday (10/8/2023), in Denpasar, Bali.

GABF is a collaboration forum between the government and businessmen from member countries of the Bali Process. The Bali Process, known as the Bali Process on People Smuggling, Trafficking in Persons and Related Transnational Crime, is a cooperation forum for discussing issues related to human trafficking, human smuggling, and other related crimes in the region.

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

Australian entrepreneur Andrew Forrest, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly, and Indonesian entrepreneur Garibaldi Thohir (left to right) were conversing during the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023 on Thursday (10/8/2023) in Denpasar, Bali.

The Indonesian and Australian governments initiated the Bali Process in 2002. The forum now has 49 members consisting of 44 countries and several international organizations. Starting in 2017, businesses are also involved through GABF.

The joint leaders of the government are the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia and the Foreign Minister of Australia. Meanwhile, the joint leaders of the business community are Garibaldi Thohir, an Indonesian entrepreneur, and Andrew Forrest, an Australian entrepreneur.

In the 2023 GABF Tech Forum, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly spoke and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong made a statement via video.

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno LP Marsudi spoke at the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023, Thursday (10/8/2023), in Denpasar, Bali.

Retno stated that the Indonesian government has handled more than 2,800 cases of Indonesian citizens who were trapped in online fraud networks. "Almost 40 percent of them were victims of human trafficking," she said.

According to data from 2020 to May 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs handled a total of 2,438 cases involving Indonesian citizens who were involved in online fraud. Among those cases, 1,233 occurred in Cambodia, 469 in the Philippines, 276 in Laos, 205 in Myanmar, 187 in Thailand, 34 in Vietnam, 30 in Malaysia, and 4 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Also read: Investigation Coverage: Girls are Sold and Prostituted

Ridwan—not his real name—recounted his experience of being ensnared by an online fraud network in the Philippines in a discussion session moderated by the Chief Editor of Kompas Sutta Dharmasaputra Daily. The graduate majoring in computer science was consumed by job vacancies abroad that were scattered on social media after suffering financial problems due to the collapse of his business.

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

Human trafficking survivor with the pseudonym Ridwan (left) spoke at the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023 discussion session, Thursday (10/8/2023) in Denpasar, Bali. Ridwan was once trapped in an online scam network in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, Ridwan realized that he had been trapped into becoming an online fraudster since the first day of his work. The perpetrator asked him to create a fictional character on social media to lure men or women into sending money through a fake investment scheme.

Ridwan refused the job and requested to leave. The perpetrator demanded him to pay 2,000 US dollars (around Rp 30 million). "I asked my family to send money so I can get out," he said.

Due to the fact that perpetrators utilize technology to recruit and exploit victims, technology must also be used for prevention. Retno is requesting technological business entities to assist in preventing fake job advertisements on the virtual world that direct potential victims to online scams, promoting vigilance amongst internet users when using social media, and conducting training to improve technology-based capacity.

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

One of the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023 discussion sessions, Thursday (10/8/2023) in Denpasar, Bali, was attended by speakers (left to right) human trafficking survivors with the pseudonym Ridwan, Director of Indonesian Citizen Protection at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Judha Nugraha, humanitarian activist Father Chrisanctus Paschalis Saturn, and Head of Tanalein Village, Solor Island, East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. Kompas Daily Editor in Chief Sutta Dharmasaputra moderated the discussion.

Business can also contribute to handling cases once they have occurred. According to Retno, the way to do this is by providing access to technology platforms for law enforcement officials who are handling cases of online fraud, along with the evidence that accompanies them.

Also read: Investigation Coverage: Child Trafficking Practices Involve Close Persons

Become another victim

Judha Nugraha, Director of Protection for Indonesian Citizens at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also encouraged business actors to be part of a support system that prevents TIP survivors from becoming victims again. This is because there are indications that a number of survivors of forced labor in online scams are returning to do similar work abroad.

The root of the problem is likely that a number of survivors are still facing financial difficulties after being rescued. "Provide productive economic activities for them, whether in the context of access to markets, access to production technology, and also access to capital. Well, the private sector is very capable of preparing these three things," said Judha.

KOMPAS/JOHANES GALUH BIMANTARA

Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna H Laoly spoke at the Government and Business Forum (GABF) Tech Forum 2023, on Thursday (10/8/2023) in Denpasar, Bali.

Minister Yasonna invited business actors to ensure that their business processes are free from human rights violations, including trafficking in persons for labour exploitation (TPPO). They can use the Prisma application managed by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to analyze the risk of human rights violations caused by business activities.

Garibaldi Thohir is convinced that world-class business is not just about pursuing profits, but also about implementing values, including involvement in eradicating human trafficking. As for Andrew Forrest, he emphasized that the Tech Forum 2023 GABF is part of an important effort to help around 30 million people globally who live without freedom because they are trapped in modern slavery.

Also read: Investigation Coverage: Life Adrift in People's Country