THE Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has called on the government to allow refugees in the country to work.

MEF president Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said it is more cost-effective to hire refugees than foreign workers.

To meet the urgent need for labour, he said employers should be allowed to hire refugees, who are a ready source of labour.

“With special approval from the government, refugees can be deployed immediately to fill the acute labour shortages faced by employers,” he said.

He said this can be done at once without incurring costs, such as for transport.

“The government should work out a scheme to allow genuine refugees the opportunity to work lawfully,” said Syed Hussain.

UNHCR Malaysia data show that as of January 2023, there are 183,793 registered refugees in Malaysia, of which 158,878, or 86%, are from Myanmar; More than 120,000 of them are adults.

Pakistan accounts for 4% of the refugees and Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia, 2%. 

Nearly 40% of the refugees are in Selangor, 18% in Kuala Lumpur and 11% in Penang.

Syed Hussain said allowing the refugees to work will reduce the burden on the government.

“Illegals and refugees are here under different circumstances. Illegals have options but chose to come here.

“Refugees are forced out of their countries with all their belongings taken from them. Therefore, it is unfair to put them in the same class of illegals.” – March 1, 2023.