A humanist approach to migration governance
Protecting irregular Indonesian migrant workers in Malaysia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22111195 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Koesrianti Koesrianti (0000-0003-4859-6045, Airlangga University), Saif Rasul Khan (Airlangga University), Ekawestri Prajwalita Widiati (0000-0003-2474-9289, Airlangga University, corresponding author), Lanny Ramli (0000-0001-5828-5385, Airlangga University), Maradona Maradona (Airlangga University) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2026-12-31 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Cogent Social Sciences (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2331-1886 • E-ISSN: 2331-1886 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/23311886.2026.2652102 |
| OpenAlex | W7152292007 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 22 |
The movement of migrant workers, particularly irregular migrants, across the Indonesia–Malaysia border remains a persistent challenge in migration governance. Despite their significant contribution to Malaysia’s economy, the protection of migrant workers’ rights as fundamental human rights is still inadequate. This article examines the compatibility between international legal standards and national regulatory frameworks governing irregular migrant workers in both countries. It explores how differences in legal terminology, regulatory approaches, and state perspectives shape migration governance. Using doctrinal legal research, the article analyzes the structure and normative content of relevant legal instruments, while a reform-oriented approach is employed to propose a more responsive governance framework. The study adopts a humanist perspective to identify a universal legal language for protecting irregular migrant workers across international, regional, and national contexts. It further highlights the gap between normative commitments in international law and their inconsistent implementation at the national level. The article argues for a more harmonized and human-centered legal approach that bridges this gap, emphasizing the shared responsibility of sending and receiving states to ensure safe, orderly, and regular migration while addressing the root causes of irregular migration
Humanism · Immigration · Indonesian · Migrant workers · Precarity · Refugee · Asian Studies and History · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Migration and Labor Dynamics
Legal Design as a Thing
Governance and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Malaysia
The Palgrave Handbook of South–South Migration and Inequality
Strengths and weaknesses in a human rights-based approach to international development – an analysis of a rights-based approach to development assistance based on practical experiences
Managing Labour Migration in Malaysia
Human Rights, State Sovereignty and the Protection of Undocumented Migrants under the International Migrant Workers Convention
When is Migration Voluntary
Managing labour migration in Malaysia
Enforcing labour rights of irregular migrants in Indonesia
Criminality, chaos and corruption
Asean’s governance of migrant worker rights
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |