“Omnibus Law Plus” for Migrant Workers: A New Solution or Merely a Grand Name?

On Friday, 4 September 2026, the Minister for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), Mukhtarudin, introduced the idea of “Omnibus Law Plus” as a means of resolving various issues faced by Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) and Indonesian Citizens (WNI) abroad. The idea was presented at the “Pasti Ada Solusi” Forum at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

As reported by the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI), the forum brought together several ministries and Indonesian representatives in Malaysia to address issues concerning WNI and PMI across sectors. These issues ranged from citizenship status, population administration, travel documents, immigration, to worker protection.

According to Mukhtarudin, these issues cannot be resolved by a single ministry alone. Therefore, Omnibus Law Plus is not intended merely as a new regulation, but rather as a “collaborative course of action,” whereby ministries and institutions possessing direct authority take action to resolve issues on the ground.

Why Is This Approach Needed?

As reported by KP2MI, this situation is one of the reasons the Government is promoting more integrated services. In the handling of cases in Malaysia, approximately 1,500 people have undergone data collection, verification, and assessment processes for the confirmation of citizenship status.

This approach also demonstrates that PMI protection is not sufficient only when workers depart or while they are working. Protection needs to cover the period before employment, during employment, and after returning to Indonesia, including matters concerning the families and education of PMI children.

In other words, what is intended to be changed is not merely the regulations, but also the way the Government provides services to PMI.

How Does “Omnibus Law Plus” Work?

There are several measures forming part of this approach.

First, service integration. The Minister of Immigration and Corrections, Agus Andrianto, emphasized the importance of linking administrative processes that have thus far been dispersed across different institutions. The resolution of NIK/NIT matters, for example, may serve as an initial stage prior to the confirmation of citizenship status and the issuance of travel documents such as SPLP or passports.

The objective is straightforward: members of the public should not have to navigate separate processes across different institutions.

Second, certainty of legal status. Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas emphasized the importance of ensuring the citizenship status of WNI facing administrative issues abroad. Such certainty is not merely a matter of documentation, but also serves as a gateway to obtaining various rights as citizens, including legal protection and access to basic services.

Third, strengthening the role of KBRI. Indonesian diplomatic missions abroad are expected to serve as the first point of contact when WNI or PMI encounter problems. At the forum, KBRI Kuala Lumpur was positioned as the “eyes, ears, and first door of the State” connecting issues on the ground with the relevant ministries in Indonesia.

Fourth, legalization and formalization of PMI. The Government has also expressed its commitment to resolving workers’ issues at their roots. Mukhtarudin stated, “Those who are not yet legal, we will legalize. Those who are not yet formal, we will formalize.” This means that the Government does not merely seek to resolve problems that have already arisen, but also seeks to encourage PMI to work through safer and more protected channels.

Omnibus Law Plus: A New Regulation or a New Way of Working?

Omnibus Law Plus reflects the Government’s effort to change the way the State is present in protecting PMI. The interconnected nature of PMI-related issues, ranging from population administration, citizenship, and travel documents to employment status, creates a need to examine how the authorities of different ministries and institutions can be linked in practice. Accordingly, service integration and coordination across different areas of authority are key to ensuring that the problems faced by PMI are no longer passed from one desk to another.

The question then becomes whether what needs to be improved is the regulations, the coordination, or instead the manner in which the Government exercises the authority it already possesses.

If various ministries and institutions already possess the authority to address these issues, the success of Omnibus Law Plus will depend heavily on coordination and implementation. Conversely, if overlapping authorities, mutually obstructive procedures, or legal gaps are identified in practice such that PMI-related issues cannot be resolved promptly, regulatory reform may form part of the solution.