[UPDATED] No decision yet on work permits for refugees: Sivakumar

PUTRAJAYA – The Human Resources Ministry is still deliberating on allowing refugees to obtain work permits so they can earn a living in Malaysia, said minister V. Sivakumar.

Speaking during a press conference at the ministerial complex here today, Sivakumar said that the ministry had yet to reach a final decision on the matter.

“For now, we don’t have a final decision yet (on whether refugees should be allowed to secure work permits).

“Some parties have suggested that the ministry consider the matter, but we have not come to a decision yet,” he said briefly when asked if the ministry has plans to make such a move.

It was reported in March that Putrajaya was working on guidelines regarding permission for refugees to work in Malaysia, with Sivakumar’s predecessor, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, leading a committee to analyse the matter.

Saravanan had said then that the ministry will guarantee that refugees’ being allowed to work here will not interfere with job opportunities for Malaysians.

Non-governmental organisations dedicated to fighting for refugee rights, including Amnesty International, have long urged the government to establish a mechanism allowing refugees access to formal employment.

Such calls, however, have often been met with backlash from the public, mainly due to fears of possibly encouraging more refugees to seek asylum in Malaysia or refugees swamping the local job market. – The Vibes, December 21, 2022