Refugees should be allowed to work as promised in manifesto, says Kula

The Pakatan Harapan government should not overlook its manifesto pledge on allowing refugees in the country to work, says Human Resources Minister M Kulasegaran.

"The government has not made a final decision as to allow foreign refugees to work in Malaysia. That's the decision as of now.

"But there is a strong voice asking the government to reconsider, and we shouldn't overlook what we mentioned in the Harapan manifesto itself.

"If you ask me personally about the government's decision, yes, I think we should allow them to work here, at least until they settle down in the third country," he said.

Kulasegaran was asked about Rohingya refugees' right to employment during a question-and-answer session at the National Conference on Anti-Trafficking in Persons in Kuala Lumpur today.

Promise 35 of Harapan's election manifesto states that refugees will be provided with United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) cards and will have the right to work.

To another question, Kulasegaran said refugee children should be allowed to receive basic education in normal schools.

"We have seen refugee children not getting basic (education), this is definitely a denial of human rights," he said.

"I think it is important that every child under the sun must have the basic privilege to go to school.

"I am hoping that after refugees are allowed to work, the government will work towards getting refugee children to go to school."

[More to follow]  - Mkini