Immigration warns Jembrana residents on trafficking risks in overseas internships

Jembrana — Immigration authorities and the manpower office in Jembrana regency have warned prospective migrant workers and local training centres about trafficking risks disguised as overseas internships, after data showed around 1,300 residents are currently working abroad.

The alert was delivered during a focus group discussion in Jembrana on 18 September 2026 involving the Class II Immigration Office in Buleleng and the Jembrana Manpower and Industry Office.

According to local media reports, immigration officials said the number of residents from Jembrana working overseas has reached about 1,300, including many employed as migrant workers.

Kasubsi Information and Immigration Communication at the Buleleng Immigration Office, Richard Jandres Tarigan, told the discussion that training centres in Jembrana are being targeted for outreach so that prospective workers receive verified information before deciding to go abroad.

He urged residents to be cautious about offers of high salaries and comfortable lifestyles overseas, and to watch for recruitment that bypasses official procedures.

Tarigan warned that trafficking schemes increasingly use seemingly legitimate programmes as cover, including religious trips, cultural tourism and internship placements.

He called on prospective migrant workers to verify the legality of any placement agent and to ensure that work visas, travel documents and employment contracts are in order before departure.

The Jembrana Manpower and Industry Office said that, so far, it has not identified strong indications of trafficking cases involving migrant workers from the regency, but maintains strict oversight of local training centres.

The office stated that 28 registered training centres in Jembrana are required to report their activities every three months.

Officials at the discussion also reminded residents not to rely solely on information circulating on social media and to consult official government channels for guidance on overseas employment and internship schemes.

They noted that trafficking and smuggling of migrants can lead to exploitation at destination countries and to immigration problems for workers who depart without meeting legal requirements.

The outreach in Jembrana comes amid national concern over trafficking cases using internship programmes abroad, including recent investigations into schemes sending Indonesian students to Germany under the guise of education-related work placements.

Sources

• RRI Denpasar
• NusaBali.com
• Detik Bali