Unregistered Marriages of Indonesian Migrant Workers and Their Impact on the Socio-Cultural Life of Children in Palm Oil Plantations in Sabah, Malaysia

The phenomenon of unregistered marriages among Indonesian migrant workers in oil palm plantations in Sabah, Malaysia, reflects the complexity of social, legal, and cultural issues in a transnational society. This study aims to analyze the practice of unregistered marriages and its socio-cultural impact on children. The method used is descriptive qualitative through interviews, observations, and documentation studies of migrant workers, children, plantation managers, and CLC teachers. The results indicate that the decision to marry unregistered is influenced by limited access to legal advice, undocumented immigration status, low legal awareness, and socio-religious norms. This practice has serious impacts on women and children, particularly in terms of legal protection, civil status, and access to education. Rational choice theory analysis explains this practice as an adaptive strategy, role theory points to tensions in women's roles, and value inheritance theory highlights obstacles to the transmission of cultural values. Government efforts are still limited, so cross-sectoral policies are needed to protect and preserve Indonesian cultural values. Keywords: Unregistered Marriage, Indonesian Migrant Workers, Socio-Cultural, Palm Oil Plantation, Sabah, Malaysia.