Over the past month, Malaysia has been systematically deporting Indonesian migrant workers (PMI) without proper work permits or whose work terms have expired. The deportations primarily occur through the Stulanglaut route to the International Ferry Port in Batam Center.
The process of deporting Indonesian workers from Malaysia to Batam has been ongoing, with notable fluctuations in the number of deportations each month. The operations are managed with coordination between Malaysian security agencies and the port authorities in Batam.
In early June, Malaysia deported nine PMIs through the Stulanglaut route to Batam, which is fewer compared to the deportations in May. In May, there were seven separate deportation events through the International Ferry Port in Batam Center.
Erik Mario Sihotang, the harbormaster at the International Ferry Port Batam Center, noted that the deported PMIs were those who either lacked proper work permits or whose employment periods had concluded. They underwent legal processing in Malaysia before being deported.
Upon arrival at Batam, the deported individuals blend with other passengers, though they receive specific instructions and are temporarily housed in shelters managed by relevant local agencies, pending their return to their respective hometowns.
The harbormaster mentioned that the likelihood of future deportations is high, though specific dates depend on decisions from Malaysian authorities.
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Attempts to get a comment from Kharisma Rukmana, the spokesperson for the Special Class 1 Immigration TPI Batam, about the deportations were not immediately successful.
The ongoing deportation of Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia via Batam highlights significant challenges in regional labor management and the protection of workers’ rights. These operations stress the need for better regulatory frameworks to ensure the rights and well-being of migrant workers are adequately safeguarded.
Malaysia has been actively deporting Indonesian migrant workers back to Batam for lack of proper documentation or expired work terms, with a noticeable decrease in the number of deportations in early June compared to May. The deported individuals are processed and temporarily housed in Batam, with ongoing uncertainty about future deportations.
Source: Batam Pos (2024)
