Selangor State Government Has No Power to Employ Refugees

The Selangor state government lacks the authority to permit refugees to work in the state, particularly in the "dirty, dangerous, and difficult" (3D) sectors. Employment for undocumented individuals or refugees will only be considered after the Federal Government finalizes registration and legal procedures, a process that also involves the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari stated that the registration process falls under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. "We need to wait for that process to be completed before we can reorganize. The responsibility for issuing identification documents lies with UNHCR," he told reporters at a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ceremony. This clarification follows a report in June where the Rohingya Human Rights Organization Malaysia (MERHROM) urged the government to allow registered refugees to work legally in 3D sectors to address critical labor shortages. However, in July, UNHCR was reportedly instructed to temporarily halt all refugee registration processes to allow for a system overhaul and the implementation of a Refugee Registration Document (DPP). Amirudin emphasized that the state government's primary focus is on repatriating refugees to their home countries, a complex process requiring agreement from their respective governments. He acknowledged that while repatriation is the goal, humanitarian considerations are necessary to prevent refugees from becoming a social problem. "Stateless individuals are not only Rohingya; there are many others. But we will focus on repatriation first, although that falls under the Federal Government's jurisdiction," he explained. He also noted that while the state cannot issue work permits, private citizens allowing refugees to rent their properties is also outside the state's jurisdiction. "There are humanitarian factors to consider; if we expel everyone, they might end up on the streets, creating social problems," he added.

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We need to wait for that process to be completed before we can reorganize. The responsibility for issuing identification documents lies with UNHCR.