Trend of Indonesian Labor Influx into Cambodian Gambling Industry
In recent years, an increasing number of Indonesian citizens have traveled to Cambodia to work in the online gambling sector. According to data from the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh, in 2023, 17,212 Indonesian citizens were registered in Cambodia, a 638% increase from 2,332 in 2020.
However, data from the Cambodian Immigration Department shows that up to 89,000 Indonesian citizens hold residence permits, indicating a large number of unregistered Indonesian workers may be involved in the gambling industry.
This trend is driven by high unemployment rates in Indonesia and the lucrative salaries offered by the gambling industry. Many Indonesians are drawn to Cambodia in hopes of better economic opportunities.
The Plight of the Workers
Although some Indonesians voluntarily go to Cambodia for gambling jobs, many find the reality starkly different from their expectations upon arrival.
Some are forced to work long hours under harsh conditions, suffering physical and psychological abuse. For instance, there have been reports of employees being electrocuted or beaten for not completing tasks, and even threats of being transferred to places like Myanmar.
Moreover, some are restricted from leaving their workplaces, living in extremely poor conditions. These situations have raised serious concerns about human rights and labor rights.
Measures Taken by Both Governments
In response to these issues, the Indonesian government has implemented several measures, including establishing a task force to combat online gambling and fraud. The government has also strengthened cooperation with Cambodia, working to repatriate trapped workers and prevent more people from being deceived.
However, the Cambodian government announced a ban on online gambling in 2019, but the implementation has been limited. Despite numerous crackdowns, many gambling sites are still operational, showing a lack of enforcement and regulation.
Challenges in Regional Security Cooperation
There is a lack of information sharing and law enforcement cooperation between Indonesia and Cambodia, making it difficult to effectively curb transnational criminal activities. Additionally, other Southeast Asian countries face similar issues, and regional cooperation mechanisms have not been fully effective.
Experts call for strengthened regional cooperation, establishing more effective early warning and response mechanisms to jointly combat transnational gambling and fraud activities, protect labor rights, and maintain regional security.
Conclusion
The issues faced by Indonesian citizens in the Cambodian gambling industry reflect the complex relationship between transnational labor migration, illegal gambling activities, and human rights protection.
To address these issues, the governments of Indonesia and Cambodia need to enhance cooperation, improve legal regulations, increase enforcement, and also strengthen public education to raise awareness about illegal gambling and transnational fraud, preventing more people from becoming victims.
