Indonesia Expands Migrant Workers Protection Through Citizenship Assurance

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is broadening its approach to migrant worker protection in Malaysia by tackling one of the most pressing issues faced abroad: citizenship and legal identity.

Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection (P2MI) Minister Mukhtarudin emphasized that safeguarding workers must go beyond employment matters to include certainty of nationality for migrants and their families facing administrative hurdles in Malaysia.

Speaking at the “PASTI ADA SOLUSI” (There is always a solution) legal services program held at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, on Friday, September 4, 2026, Minister Mukhtarudin underlined that the state’s role extends across the entire migration cycle.

“Protection is not only about departure and employment, but also ensuring their rights as citizens remain intact. The state is present before departure, during employment, and after returning home,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

The initiative has already processed 1,500 Indonesians across Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, and Tawau, who underwent verification and assessment to receive official citizenship status documents.

The effort is anchored in Law No. 12/2006 on Citizenship and the Minister of Law Regulation No. 6/2025, which govern nationality confirmation for Indonesians abroad.

Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas reinforced that legal certainty is a state obligation, while Minister of Immigration and Corrections Agus Andrianto highlighted efficiency and inter‑agency synergy in managing immigration and travel documents.

Ambassador Raden Dato Mohammad Iman Hascarya Kusumo added that migrant protection encompasses broader aspects: family, children’s education, and legal identity.

The integrated program, involving the Ministry of Law, P2MI Ministry, Immigration and Corrections Ministry, the Directorate General of Civil Registration, and the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, is expected to be replicated in other countries hosting Indonesian migrant workers. ***