THE PROBLEMS OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS' RIGHTS PROTECTION IN MALAYSIA
ABSTRACT: This paper describes
the poor state of protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers Rights in almost all
economic sectors, both formal and non-formal, in Malaysia. In this research,
most of the randomly interviewed respondents were Indonesian Migrant Workers
(TKI) with a few Philipinos, Indians and Vietnamese employed in various sectors
such as domestic work, manufacturing, plantations, construction, or retail
(stores and cafes). Many of the TKI living and working in Malaysia did not
receive their full rights as workers and sometimes even lost their basic rights
such as that to_a minimum wage, not being not having their wages withheld or
not paid at all their withhelds, as well as a refusal to have their passports
returned. Many of the Indonesian workers were physically and sexually abused by
their employers. For example, some Indonesian workers employed in the
plantation and construction sectors had to stay in very poor accommodation
while many female workers were victimized into becoming forced prostitutes by
their sponsors. In addition, some of the TKI had to face serious problems of
protection; many as vic~ of corrupt practices such as the imposition of illegal
levies by Malaysian olice and immigration staffs suffered by the TKI were
demands for payments; extortion of money and confiscation of valuables factors
contributing to the vulnerability of Indonesian migrant workers such as: a) Low
formal education and lack of relevant training; b )Lack of information on how
to obtain travel documents, how to apply for jobs or visas and how much to pay
in fees; c) Lack of knowledge or understanding of the labour law and
immigration regulations of Malaysia as the receiving country; d) Falsifying
ofiD Cards, data of passports and other travel documents in the recruitment and
deployment process by recruiting agents and involving immigration officials.
Penulis: Sri Wahyono
Kode Jurnal: jpsosiologidd070055
