Malaysia is one of the countries with a significant need for Migrant Workers; in 2018, it was estimated that Malaysia employed 6.7 million people as migrant workers. The large number of migrant workers in Malaysia is needed to support sustainable development in Malaysia. Apart from that, there are few jobs in their country of origin, making many Asian citizens tempted to work in Malaysia with a higher standard salary. At the same time, the cost of living in Malaysia is relatively low.
There is no official data on Indonesian migrant workers working in Malaysia. Still, an estimated 3 million Indonesian migrant workers toil in Malaysia, 1.2 million of whom are documented, while the rest (around 1.8 million) are undocumented. Indonesian workers working in Malaysia are spread across several sectors, including the construction, plantation and informal sectors.
While working in Malaysia, Indonesian workers working in the construction and plantation sectors in Malaysia live in a joint venture. Shares are generally made from used containers or semi-permanent buildings with board or plywood materials.
One share complex can usually accommodate up to 900 people. And each booth or cabin can be filled by 8 to 10 people. During the Covid period, when various development projects in Malaysia stopped, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in Indonesia were repatriated. The reduced number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia has resulted in one partnership being filled with only 3 to 4 people. Another reason for the reduced number of other joint venture room occupants is the implementation of the health protocol in Malaysia.To see more about the lives of migrant workers in Malaysia, see more in the “Undocumented” film on the Watchdoc Documentary YouTube channel.