Refugees' right to work should go beyond 3D jobs, Tenaganita says

KUALA LUMPUR: Rights advocacy group Tenaganita has urged the right to work for refugees to extend beyond low-skill, hazardous jobs commonly referred to as 3D roles, emphasizing that refugees possess a range of skills, qualifications, and experiences that warrant safer and more meaningful employment opportunities. Executive director Glorene Das highlighted that refugees should not be viewed merely as a source of cheap labour, but as individuals in need of safety, dignity, and the means to support their families.

Das stressed that refugees must be granted legal authorization to work, as well as protection against arrest and detention stemming from their refugee status. She called for equal treatment in terms of minimum wages, occupational safety, working hours, rest periods, and avenues for lodging complaints, just like other workers. Das pointed out that undocumented workers often hesitate to report unpaid wages, hazardous conditions, or abuse due to the risk of losing their jobs, facing arrest, or being deported.

She underscored the importance of ensuring safe complaint channels, thorough labour inspections, accountability for employers, and safeguarding refugees from retaliation. Tenaganita's activist also suggested that refugees should be able to switch employers without losing their right to work, while still enjoying access to healthcare and protection against being forcibly returned.

Das noted that the issue should not be allowed to pit refugees, migrant workers, and Malaysians against each other, but should instead concentrate on equitable wages, secure working conditions, and equal treatment. Employers were reminded not to exploit refugees to suppress wages or undermine local employment. Tenaganita firmly stated that refugees should be acknowledged as individuals with rights, not merely as a means to meet economic demands.

A comprehensive policy should benefit workers, their families, employers, and Malaysian society alike, without compromising anyone's dignity or protection. Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail mentioned during a session in the Dewan Rakyat that the government may permit registered refugees to address labour shortages in 3D sectors to diminish reliance on foreign workers.

He revealed that the proposal could be evaluated based on data concerning approximately 225,000 refugees, as per records maintained by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Tenaganita is a non-profit organization that champions the rights and protection of migrant workers, refugees, and other disadvantaged communities.