Lawmaker Urges Government to Ease Legal Work Access for Indonesian Migrant Workers

The increasing number of non-procedural Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) being held at the Indonesia-Malaysia border has drawn attention from House of Representatives (DPR) Commission XIII member Franciscus Sibarani of the Golkar Party. He views the trend as a serious alarm over the lack of domestic employment opportunities and the difficulty of accessing legal migration channels. Based on direct visits to border areas, Franciscus noted that the number of residents whose departure is delayed due to suspected plans to work in Malaysia without complete documents has continued to rise from 2024 into 2026. ‘Immigration officers have performed their supervisory duties very well. This delay is not merely an administrative rejection, but a real effort to protect citizens from the threat of human trafficking and labour exploitation,’ Franciscus said in a statement on Monday, 15 June 2026. However, behind the rising numbers, Franciscus sees a more fundamental problem. Malaysia remains an economic magnet for Indonesian job seekers, particularly in the plantation, agriculture, construction, and service sectors, with monthly wages ranging from 1,700 to 3,000 Malaysian Ringgit. ‘This is also an alarm that many people are still struggling to find work domestically, so they are forced to seek a living abroad,’ he said. He cautioned that rejection at official border posts does not simply stop people’s intentions. Many instead turn to unofficial routes, which significantly heightens the risk of human trafficking, people smuggling, and labour exploitation. The situation is worsened by the high death rate among undocumented Indonesian workers in Sarawak, which field information suggests averages around two per week. The majority lack work visas and adequate legal protection, and often avoid healthcare facilities for fear of document checks by Malaysian authorities. ‘When legal access is closed, some people choose illegal routes. This is where the risk of human trafficking crimes grows and the reach of state oversight weakens,’ he stressed. Franciscus urged regional governments to play a more active role by bringing document processing services and information on legal employment closer to border communities. He cited the example of residents near Entikong who must travel all the way to Pontianak just to process legal work requirements, a burden that often becomes the reason for choosing illegal routes.