House Member Urges Government to Ease Legal Access for Migrant Workers

Jakarta - Member of House Commission XIII Franciscus Maria Agustinus Sibarani is urging the government to take a more active role by bringing document processing services and legal job information closer to border areas. He stressed that preventing non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers cannot be resolved solely at the border line. “Synergy is needed between the central government, regional governments, Immigration, KP2MI, and law enforcement officials to ensure every citizen has real access to safe, dignified, and legally protected work,” Franciscus said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday. “Success in preventing illegal departures must be followed by concrete solutions. The state is not only present to prohibit, but is also obliged to ensure every citizen has the opportunity to work decently,” he added.

Franciscus cited residents around Entikong who must travel a long distance to Pontianak just to process legal work requirements, a burden that often becomes the reason for choosing illegal routes. “Do not let the difficulty of processing documents lead them to ultimately choose a path that endangers their own safety and future,” he said. On that occasion, he also highlighted the increasing number of non-procedural migrant workers detained at the Indonesia-Malaysia border. He said this trend simultaneously serves as a serious alarm over the narrow domestic job market and the difficulty of accessing legal migration pathways.

Based on direct visits to border areas, Franciscus noted that the number of residents whose departures were postponed because they were suspected of intending to work in Malaysia without complete documents has continued to rise from 2024 to 2026. “Immigration officers have performed their supervisory function very well. This postponement is not merely an administrative rejection, but a real effort to protect the public from the threat of human trafficking and labour exploitation,” said Franciscus. However, behind the rising postponement figures, Franciscus sees a much more fundamental problem. Malaysia remains an economic magnet for Indonesian job seekers, especially in the plantation, agriculture, construction, and services sectors, with a wage range of 1,700 to 3,000 Malaysian ringgit per month.

Franciscus reminded that rejection at official border gates does not necessarily stop the workers’ intentions. Many then switch to unofficial routes, which actually increases the risk of human trafficking, people smuggling, and labour exploitation. This condition is exacerbated by the high death rate of illegal Indonesian migrant workers in Sarawak, which based on field information averages around two people per week. The majority do not have work visas or adequate legal protection, and often avoid health facilities for fear of having their documents checked by Malaysian authorities. “When official access is closed, some people choose illegal routes. This is where the risk of TPPO becomes even greater and the reach of state oversight becomes weaker,” he said.