Malaysia Remains a Top Destination for Indonesian Migrant Workers

Malaysia remains the top destination for Indonesian migrant workers (TKI). Data from the Indonesian National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Workers (BNP2TKI) shows that the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in neighboring Malaysia reached 87,616 people. This figure is equivalent to 37.4 percent of the total placement of Indonesian migrant workers abroad. The second largest placement of Indonesian migrant workers in 2016 was Taiwan with 77,087 people, and the third was Saudi Arabia with 13,538 people.

Meanwhile, in the January-March 2017 period, the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia totaled 20,034 people, down from the previous period's 22,972 people. The placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Taiwan in the first quarter of 2017 also decreased to 15,965 people from 19,041 people in the same period the previous year, and the placement of Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia also decreased to 1,448 people from 4,311 people in the previous period.

Malaysia's new immigration policies, including a single-window visa system and additional health checks for Indonesian migrant workers, are detrimental to prospective Indonesian workers and placement companies. An additional levy of Rp 1.73 million, which should be borne by employers in Malaysia, is being charged to prospective Indonesian migrant workers.