PREVENTING THE EXPLOITATION AND NON-PROCEDURAL PLACEMENT OF INDONESIAN MIGRANT WORKERS THROUGH COMMUNITY-BASED LEGAL EDUCATION AND ASSISTANCE

Abstract

Non-procedural placement and exploitation continue to threaten Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Malaysia, partly because many rely on informal information and have limited understanding of lawful procedures and protection mechanisms. This community service aimed to improve PMI legal literacy in preventing exploitation and non-procedural placement. Held on 17 July 2026 at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur with 75 PMI, it applied community-based legal education and assistance in six stages: needs identification, material preparation, legal education, interactive discussion, legal consultation, and evaluation. Data were collected through pre-test and post-test, observation, interviews, feedback forms, and a questionnaire, then analyzed descriptively. The average score rose from 68.5 to 87.5 (+19.0 points), with the largest gain in identifying illegal recruitment and exploitation risks. The activity strengthened legal literacy and caution toward unverified job offers. Regular, continuous education supported by digital media, institutional cooperation, and long-term follow-up evaluation is recommended.