KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Ministry has been tasked with heading a committee to review issues surrounding allowing refugees to work legally in the country.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said this in a parliamentary reply to Chan Ming Kai (PKR-Alor Star) who asked for updates on the issue of allowing refugees to work in Malaysia legally, as well as the content of the proposed policy.
"The government has appointed the Human Resources Ministry to head a committee responsible to scrutinise issues on allowing refugees to work here.
"The policy decision on this matter will only be announced once the government has done meticulous research on the viability of the programme, as well as its impact on our citizens," he said.
At the moment, refugees who carry the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) card are only allowed to work in informal sectors to gain income.
"However, the pilot 'Projek Rintis Kebenaran Bekerja' by the Gardenia company is currently employing 93 Rohingya refugees," he said.