Jakarta (ANTARA) - Economic pressure has been driving many Indonesians to desperately try their luck abroad, including in neighboring countries like Malaysia--even without official documentation.Their families in their hometowns tend to see them as heroes who will return home with money for paying off crushing debt. But, in the eyes of the law, they hold the status of illegal migrant workers (PMIs), which makes them vulnerable to being detained and sentenced by the authorities of the countries they enter for work. Based on data provided by the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), as of Thursday (July 13, 2023), a total of 2,959 Indonesian citizens are facing indefinite detention in Malaysia, despite completing their sentences. The figure comprises 2,160 men, 697 women, and 102 underage children. Though they are ready to be deported, instead of returning to their motherland, they are stuck in Malaysian immigration detention depots, which serve as transit points, due to unclear repatriation mechanisms. This is a complex issue not just for the migrants, but also policy makers. In addition to thinking of legal aspects and repatriation financing mechanisms, policy makers need to maintain Indonesia-Malaysia relations, find a solution to ensure the fulfillment of the illegal workers' basic rights, and most importantly, formulate measures to prevent similar events from recurring. Preventive solutions are of the essence to break the vicious cycle of illegal migrant workers' detention and deportation.
Source: Antara News Agency