Indonesian officials are fighting back against speculation of a looming ban after a series of viral incidents involving their citizens

A robbery in Ibaraki prefecture, viral footage of unruly behaviour by an Indonesian group in Osaka and social media posts purporting to reflect the concerns of Japanese employers have stirred debate about Indonesian migrant workers’ ability to adapt to Japanese norms and what Jakarta can do about it.

Indonesian officials warn that much of the backlash – and resulting panic – has been stoked by misinformation, with potentially serious repercussions for Indonesians seeking work overseas.

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