Nepali Migrant Workers Face Perils of Illegal Entry into Malaysia via Thailand

In a desperate bid for better opportunities, Nepali migrant workers are increasingly risking their lives and savings to enter Malaysia illegally through Thailand, exploiting porous border routes like the Golok River. With Malaysia suspending the intake of foreign workers in key sectors for nearly a year, human traffickers have capitalized on the desperation of workers, routing them through dangerous and unregulated channels. The personal stories of individuals like Nabin Pasi, Rajdeu Pasi, and Ravi Pasi from Rupandehi, Nepal, who were recently repatriated after paying hefty fines, highlight the human cost of these illicit journeys.

A Treacherous Route Through Thailand

For many Nepali workers, the journey begins with a promise of steady employment in Malaysia, a country that has historically been a significant destination for migrant labor from South Asia. However, since mid-2024, Malaysia has imposed strict quotas, halting new worker intakes in sectors like manufacturing and services—industries where 62 percent and 29 percent of Nepali workers in Malaysia are employed, respectively. Only the security sector has recently reopened to Nepalis, leaving thousands of hopeful migrants in limbo.

Unable to secure legal work visas, many turn to traffickers who offer a workaround: entering Malaysia via Thailand on tourist visas before being smuggled across the border. Workers are often taken to Thailand’s Narathiwat Province, where they are ferried by boat across the Golok River into Malaysia’s Kelantan state. Despite tightened border controls and mandatory immigration checks at crossings like Rantau Panjang, traffickers continue to exploit these routes, according to officials at the Nepali Embassy in Kuala Lumpur.

Nabin Pasi, a worker from ward 3 of Marchawari Rural Municipality in Rupandehi, recounted his experience to local media. “We waited months for the official process to open. When that didn’t happen, Binod Yadav from our village told us we could go via Thailand on a visit visa” he said. Nabin, along with Rajdeu and Ravi Pasi, paid traffickers approximately 395,000 Nepali Rupees (US$2,950) each for the journey, with promises of earning 1,700 Malaysian Ringgit (US$360) per month. “Only after arriving did we realize it was an illegal entry. Our families were terrified. We even sold land to come here” Nabin added.

The Human Cost of Desperation

The personal toll of such decisions is staggering. Workers often liquidate family assets or take on significant debt to fund their migration, only to find themselves in precarious situations upon arrival. Rajdeu Pasi described the clandestine nature of their border crossing, orchestrated remotely by a Thai agent they never met. “We never saw the Thai agent. He only coordinated over the phone and arranged taxis and hotels” Rajdeu explained. After being dropped near the Thai-Malaysia border, the group was ferried across the river in the early morning hours, under strict instructions not to speak. “There were others too. After a short walk through the jungle, a vehicle took us to Kuala Lumpur” Ravi recalled.

Once in Malaysia, the reality of their undocumented status sets in. Without legal protections, workers face exploitation, arrest, or deportation. The trio from Rupandehi ultimately sought assistance from the Nepali Embassy for repatriation, but not before each was fined 3,100 Malaysian Ringgit (US$660) by Malaysian authorities for illegal entry. Had they been arrested while working, they could have faced up to five years in prison. “They have been repatriated with coordination between immigration and the embassy” said Labour Counsellor Krishna Bhusal, emphasizing the risks of such crossings.

Systemic Issues and Complicity

The surge in illegal entries via Thailand reflects broader systemic challenges. Malaysia’s labor suspension, initially implemented to manage an oversupply of foreign workers, has created a vacuum that traffickers have eagerly filled. Embassy officials in Kuala Lumpur have pointed to the complicity of some recruitment agencies in Malaysia, noting that undocumented workers allow employers to evade legal liabilities. While exact figures are unavailable, the Nepali Embassy reports a noticeable rise in citizens entering Malaysia through these illicit land routes from Thailand.

Local communities near the border, particularly in Thailand’s Narathiwat Province, have also been affected by the crackdown on illegal crossings. Residents, including students who regularly cross the Golok River for education, have objected to heightened border monitoring. However, Malaysian and Thai authorities remain resolute, citing the sharp increase in undocumented entries as a security concern.

Stories of resilience and desperation are common among those who take these risks. A Nepali woman in Rawang, who previously worked in Malaysia for five years, shared her reasons for returning via the same illegal route. “I came back the same way due to a lack of opportunities in Nepal. We were three women in the group. I’ve lost contact with the others” she said. Her account underscores the lack of viable alternatives for many Nepali workers, who see migration—legal or otherwise—as their only path to economic stability.

Policy Challenges and Regional Implications

The issue of illegal migration from Nepal to Malaysia via Thailand raises complex questions about labor policies and border security in the region. Malaysia’s gradual reopening of sectors to foreign workers, starting with security roles, offers some hope. “Malaysia is gradually reopening sectors based on need. The security sector has already opened, and others may follow soon” Bhusal noted. However, he cautioned against illegal entry, warning that “those entering illegally won’t be allowed to work and could face jail and deportation.”

For Nepal, a country heavily reliant on remittances from migrant workers, the suspension of legal labor channels to Malaysia has significant economic repercussions. Many workers, unable to wait for official processes, fall prey to trafficking networks that operate with impunity across borders. The alleged involvement of individuals like Sajan Shah from Kathmandu, who reportedly arranged the trio’s journey, points to the organized nature of these operations.

Regionally, the porous border between Thailand and Malaysia remains a hotspot for human trafficking and smuggling. Both countries have stepped up efforts to curb illegal crossings, but the Golok River route continues to be exploited due to its remote location and the complicity of local agents. Addressing this issue requires not only stricter enforcement but also bilateral cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks and provide safer, legal pathways for migrant workers.

A Call for Safer Migration Pathways

The experiences of Nabin, Rajdeu, and Ravi Pasi serve as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers in South East Asia. Their story is not an isolated one; countless others remain undocumented in Malaysia, working in the shadows while fearing arrest or worse. Some choose to stay despite the risks, driven by the same desperation that led them to cross borders illegally in the first place.

As Malaysia considers reopening more sectors to foreign labor, the need for streamlined, transparent migration processes has never been more urgent. For Nepal, tackling the root causes of migration—limited economic opportunities and systemic inefficiencies in labor export—remains a long-term challenge. Until then, traffickers will continue to prey on the dreams of workers willing to risk everything for a better life.

As reforms and policies evolve, the question lingers: how many more will have to pay the price of desperation before safer, legal pathways are secured for migrant workers across the region?