KUALA LUMPUR: The right to work for refugees should not be restricted to dirty, dangerous and difficult (3D) jobs, rights group Tenaganita said.
Its executive director Glorene Das said refugees have diverse skills, qualifications and experience and should have opportunities to work safely and meaningfully.
"Refugees must not be seen merely as a convenient source of cheap labour to fill jobs others do not want. They are human beings seeking safety, dignity and the opportunity to support their families," she said.
She said refugees must have legal permission to work and protection against arrest and detention for immigration offences arising from their refugee status.
They should receive the same minimum wages, occupational safety protections, working hours, rest days and access to complaint mechanisms as other workers, she said.
Workers without secure legal status often feared reporting unpaid wages, unsafe conditions or abuse because they risked losing their jobs, arrest or deportation, the activist said.
She said safe complaint mechanisms, effective labour inspections, employer accountability and protection against retaliation were essential.
Refugees should also be able to change employers without losing their right to work, while retaining access to healthcare and protection against forced return, she said.
She said the issue should not pit refugees, migrant workers and Malaysians against one another, but focus on fair wages, safe working conditions and equal treatment.
Employers must not use refugees to suppress wages or undermine local employment, she said.
"Our position is simple: refugees should be recognised as people with rights, not simply as labour to meet economic demands.
"A meaningful policy must benefit workers, their families, employers and Malaysian society, without sacrificing anyone's dignity or protection."
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that the government may allow registered refugees to fill labour shortages in 3D sectors to reduce its dependence on foreign workers.
He said the proposal could be considered based on data on about 225,000 people with refugee status, according to records maintained by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Tenaganita is a human rights organisation advocating for the rights and protection of migrant workers, refugees and other vulnerable communities.
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