ECONOMIC BENEFITS EXPECTED
Refugees granted legal access to work in Malaysia could boost the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) by US$750 million over five years and generate more than US$12 million in annual tax revenue, according to a study by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, a Malaysian think tank.
Meanwhile, human rights advocates are urging authorities to ensure transparency and protect refugees from exploitation.
Charles Santiago, co-chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights, said authorities must clamp down on corruption, warning that labour brokers who currently bring foreign workers into the workforce could simply adapt and continue operating under different guises .
“This is where enforcement and the government has to be very strong,” he added.
Advocates also said refugees willing to work should not face unnecessary restrictions on employment opportunities.
Refugee rights campaigner Aslam Abd Jalil said refugees should be granted legal status through a straightforward registration process, allowing them to obtain documentation that enables them to work in sectors suited to their skills and capabilities.
“It’s a win-win situation. We needed these people to work in our country and they also needed income and livelihoods,” he added.
This comes as efforts to resettle refugees in Malaysia in third countries have slowed significantly, driven in part by cuts to resettlement quotas in destination countries.
The challenge is also expected to deepen as humanitarian agencies grapple with funding shortages affecting refugee support programmes.
Saifuddin said: “We have to face the reality that this is potentially going to be a serious problem for Malaysia.”