In a written parliamentary reply, Saravanan said his ministry will study the suitable sectors for refugees and ensure that permission for them to work will not lead to competition with Malaysians for jobs.

He also said the ministry will look to make this a “pulling factor” for more refugees and asylum seekers holding cards from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to enter the country.

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However, no timeline was given by the minister as to when this guideline would be introduced.

“The management of refugees and asylum seekers in the country is currently subject to the National Security Council’s (MKN) Directive 23. This directive is being improved and it will be tabled at an MKN meeting for approval.

“For now, refugees with UNHCR cards are only allowed to work in the informal sector to sustain themselves. Through the improvements made to Directive 23, a guideline on refugees’ permission to work will be introduced.

“Through this mechanism, the government will be able to ensure that these refugees are included in the national database and any information relevant to them will be updated from time to time,” he said.

Saravanan also said Putrajaya was ready to cooperate with the UNHCR and other stakeholders to ensure that permission to work can be implemented effectively.

He was replying to a question from Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang), who asked about proposals to allow refugees with UNHCR cards to formally work in Malaysia.

There have been numerous calls from activists for refugees to be allowed to work in the country, particularly in sectors that local people tend to avoid.