Legalising refugee employment could improve oversight, says NGO

 Tenaganita says many refugees are already working to support themselves, but most are employed in the informal sector and lack adequate legal protection.

The Rohingya community came under renewed scrutiny following a petition by the Aku Anak Malaysia account calling for their relocation from the country. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

Allowing refugees, including Rohingya, to take up legal and regulated employment could help the government manage issues involving the community more effectively, according to an NGO.

Tenaganita executive director Glorene Das said many refugees were already working to support themselves, but that most were employed in the informal sector without adequate legal protection.

She said this left them vulnerable to exploitation, including human trafficking, low wages or non-payment of wages, as well as unsafe working conditions.

“When people are given the opportunity to work legally within a regulated system, they become more visible to the authorities, easier to monitor, better able to support themselves, and less reliant on humanitarian aid.

“Opening up regulated employment opportunities would therefore not only benefit refugees, but also help the government manage the issue more effectively,” she told FMT.

Das also said the government should take public concerns over safety and social order seriously, while improving public understanding of refugees’ status to prevent misconceptions.

“The reality is that many refugees have been living in Malaysia for years.

“The question is not whether they exist, but how the situation can be managed in a more organised and responsible manner without disregarding public concerns,” she said.

Das was commenting on scrutiny of the Rohingya community, which was renewed following a petition launched on May 29 by the Aku Anak Malaysia account calling for their relocation from Malaysia.

As of June 5, the petition had recorded over 280,000 signatures. However, FMT’s checks today found that the petition had been removed from the Change.org platform.

The petition’s organisers said the government should form a comprehensive plan to address issues involving Rohingya refugees, whom they claimed had contributed to various social problems and placed pressure on public resources and services.

Utusan Malaysia previously reported Federation of Malaysian Employers president Syed Hussain Syed Husman as saying that refugees registered with UNHCR should be allowed to work legally to help address labour shortages in the “3D” sectors of dirty, dangerous, and difficult jobs.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said the proposal should be carefully studied to ensure that its implementation does not create future problems.

“This matter must be thoroughly examined to ensure that any employment opportunities provided are strictly focused on addressing labour shortages in specific sectors.

“At the same time, the government must ensure that those seeking employment have the right attitude and mindset towards work,” he said. - FMT