Gresik Government Repatriates Six Stateless Children of Indonesian Migrant Workers to Access Education
Six children of Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) from Gresik were repatriated from Malaysia by the Gresik Regency government on Friday (10/7). They had been facing difficulties obtaining identity documents and accessing education due to their citizenship status.
Gresik Regent Fandi Akhmad Yani stated that in February 2026, the Gresik Regency government had previously repatriated three children of migrant workers. In this latest wave, six more children were brought home because of citizenship issues.
“Alhamdulillah, today we welcome the return of the children of migrant workers, who were accompanied by Mr Shoheh, a representative from the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia,” said Fandi Akhmad Yani on Friday (10/7/2026).
The man familiarly called Gus Yani added that the children were repatriated because they had been unable to obtain citizenship status. The cause stemmed from the status of their parents.
“The parents had various problems. Some married there, and the children born could not access citizenship status. They struggled to obtain identity documents, health insurance, and schooling in Malaysia,” Gus Yani added.
Gus Yani explained that the Gresik Regency Government has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indonesian Embassy in Malaysia regarding the protection of migrant workers’ children. This is particularly relevant as many residents of the Pudak sub-district work as migrant workers in Malaysia.
“We are trying to see and hear directly, focusing on children born from marriages or to migrant workers. Coincidentally, Mr Shoheh is also our resident, originally from Bawean. Alhamdulillah, he has helped the Gresik Regency Government to repatriate these children,” he said.
Today, six children were repatriated to obtain their basic rights. Starting from the right to identity, education, and health, all services are being provided to these children. This is a focus of the regional government regarding public services, especially for the children of migrant workers. We see that when basic identity rights are not possessed, all their rights to life are severed, including health, protection, and other rights, especially education. This is a major problem.
According to Gus Yani, if these children do not receive proper access to education from childhood to adulthood, their aspirations cannot be achieved.
“If left unchecked, they will certainly lose their dreams. This means that by saving them, by saving their generation, we as the Gresik Regency Government become a bridge to achieve the dreams of these great children,” he concluded.