Children of Indonesian Migrant Workers in Johor Still Face Education Barriers

Published 2026-10-29

International labour migration has now become an important part of globalisation. This migration not only changes labour markets, but also the way states regulate the rights of their own citizens and of foreign nationals.

One issue currently being studied is the right to education of the children of Indonesian migrant workers living in Johor, Malaysia. This research was published by Airlangga University.

In the study, the researchers address two opposing matters. The first is structured exclusion, namely a condition in which the children of migrant workers find it difficult to access education because of existing rules and systems. The second is normative inclusion, namely the recognition of the right to education as written in regulations or general principles. The researchers describe this condition as a paradox, because the right does exist on paper, but in practice it cannot always be enjoyed by these children.

The study also shows that the education problems of migrant workers' children cannot be viewed only from the perspective of the workers themselves. The parents' immigration status, the ability to access schools, and government regulations all equally affect children's opportunities to learn. For this reason, the issue is connected to the governance of rights at the state level and to cooperation between sending and receiving countries.

For Indonesia, this issue is important because many Indonesian citizens work in Malaysia, including in Johor. Migrant worker families who bring their children certainly hope that their children will receive a decent education. Therefore, the findings of this research may serve as a consideration for policymakers.

Sources: Universitas Airlangga

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