JAKARTA - A district head in eastern Indonesia admitted this week that his government has failed to get basic information about legal overseas work to villagers, leaving many to fall into the hands of illegal recruiters. 

Willybrodus Lay, who runs Belu district on the border with Timor Leste, made the confession during a December 10 visit by Christina Aryani, vice minister for the protection of Indonesian migrant workers. She had come to warn residents in Fatuketi village about trafficking risks.

"We haven't been able to provide adequate information for people who want to work abroad," Lay said, as quoted by state news agency Antara. "Many residents are unemployed and lost because they don't know where to go." 

The problem is huge. Indonesia, as Aryani said, currently has 351,000 legal job openings overseas but has only placed 68,000 workers. The gap means desperate villagers may turn to whoever shows up promising work, legal or not. 

East Nusa Tenggara, where Belu is located, had a poverty rate of 19.02% as of September 2024, well above the national average. The province is a major source of migrant workers and remains vulnerable to illegal recruitment networks.

Aryani warned villagers during the church gathering to watch out for agents who show up claiming to represent official bodies. She told them to verify with BP3MI, the government's migrant worker placement agency, before signing anything.

"There are agents who come to villages using various names," Aryani said, according to Antara. "If you experience this, check first. Make sure the agent is official or not. You can ask BP3MI NTT, or just call, WhatsApp, or email."

A priest in the area told officials that people leave for all kinds of reasons. Some have debts. Others are escaping domestic violence. Some need money for traditional ceremonies or school fees. Without clear information on legal routes, they take whatever path opens up.

Aryani spent two days in Belu, visiting a defense college and the border crossing. The ministry says workers need to be at least 18, speak a foreign language, and have certified skills. But getting those qualifications is hard when local governments can't even tell people what jobs exist or how to apply legally.