ИСТИНА

Common historical origins, geographical and cultural proximity have turned Malaysia into the most popular destination for Indonesian migrant workers since decades. Although many of the current regional migration trends are rooted in the colonial era, the most significant growth of labour migration from Indonesia to Malaysia began in the 1960s and 1970s and continues until the present day. According to the statistics, 2.7 million out of the estimated 3.4 million international migrant workers in Malaysia are from Indonesia. Most of them are low-skilled workers mainly engaged in the agricultural sector, manufacturing, construction, and service industries. Approximately 48 percent of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia are recognized as illegal migrants due to procedures and requirements violation codified in international and national legislation while entering the country. Despite the significant reasons for pursuing employment overseas (including, but not limited to, the relatively high poverty rate in Indonesia, shortage of employment opportunities, poor working conditions etc.), the lack of required documents to support legal status results in dire consequences for many Indonesian workers and significantly exacerbates their social and economic position, leading to more hardships and difficulties.