The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) is supporting the government in its decision to employ about 300 ethnic Rohingyas holding the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards.
MEF executive director Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan said this was seen as a positive move as it would fulfil the needs of certain sectors especially the labour, agriculture and farming sectors which were not popular among local residents.
“The decision will not affect employment opportunities for the local population as the refugees will only be involved in specific areas especially in the dirty, difficult and dangerous areas or better known as 3D jobs.
“Most of these positions are being filled by the foreigners and currently we have a shortage of migrant workers, so indirectly by employing the refugees it will help fill the labour gaps in these sectors.”
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had announced a government pioneer project to enable Rohingya refugees holding the UNHCR cards to be legally employed from March 1.
Ahmad Zahid said as at Dec 31 last year, 149,474 UNHCR card holders from 62 countries were recorded in Malaysia.
Commenting further, Shamsuddin said the decision proved the government’s commitment in helping ethnic Rohingyas – who had been residing in the country but were illegally employed.
He said they were previously forced to work illegally to earn a living and this had encouraged them to engage in illegal and undesirable activities.
Original source: The Rakyat Post
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