UNHCR:  EMPLOY REFUGEES TO CURB LABOUR SHORTAGE

Jun 13, 05 5:30pm

Instead of arresting refugees, the government should offer them employment in order to overcome the acute labour shortage in the country.

This suggestion was made by the Kuala Lumpur-based head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Volker Turk today.

"Why not use the existing refugee population that cannot be deported anyway for economic purposes?

"Some of them are already working anyway, illegally, to gain a source of income. Why not legalise and regularise that?" he told a UN-sponsored conference on migration and refugee issues.

Allowing refugees to seek legal employment would benefit Malaysia's economy and demonstrate its humanitarian credentials, he said.

He said Malaysia is in need of some 500,000 workers following its crackdown on illegal immigrants launched earlier this year.

According to Turk, there are some 50,000 refugees in the country. They include about 20,000 from the restive Indonesian province of Aceh and 10,000 Rohingyas from Burma. The rest are ethnic Chin Burmese and Nepalese.

Both the Muslim Rohingyas and Christian Chins fled their country following alleged persecution by the ruling military regime.

He also noted that Malaysia had launched "a desperate search" for new foreign workers from Pakistan and elsewhere.

No constructive policy

“This could be a long-run humanitarian, security and economic effort for Malaysia to allow the refugees to enter into the work sectors here,” Turk was quoted as saying by Bernama.

“The government has announced that it will allow temporary residence status to the Rohingyas which allows them to work legally and have access to education and medical benefits. However, this has yet to be implemented. Many (Rohingya) children have no educational opportunities at all,” he added.

He said UNHCR supports and awaits the implementation of the government’s decision. It also hopes that the government will eventually extend this to all refugees here.

Meanwhile, Prof K.S. Jomo, the UN assistant secretary-general for economic development, said Malaysia as an importer of labour must formulate a constructive policy to manage foreign workers.

“ Malaysia does not have an effective migrational policy although it has a large foreign population,” said the New York-based official.

“This is not good for the economy and the nation’s image. It must be addressed in a more constructive manner,” said the former University Malaya lecturer.

Malaysia is not a signatory to 1951 Refugee Convention and does not recognise those accorded with refugee or asylum status.

Over the years, authorities have detained those in possession with protection letters from the UNHCR.

(NOTE: This information was relayed to MFA by Charles Hector Fernandez, a human rights lawyer in Malaysia. He is closely working with MFA.  Charles can be contacted through his email address: chef@tm.net.my.)

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