Malaysia’s mamak eateries need Rohingya refugees to ease ‘critical’ employee scarcity, however hurdles stay | USAEMALL.com

On Jan 23, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli reportedly disagreed with calls by the restaurant associations to ease restrictions on the hiring of foreign workers, stressing that the government will continue to focus on reducing the nation’s reliance on low-skilled foreign labour.

In response to PRESMA’s proposal, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said on Feb 9 that such suggestions must comply with the country’s policies and laws.

“Therefore, we need to assess whether our government has such a policy, whether our country and society are ready, and if employers are prepared to hire these workers,” he said as quoted by the New Straits Times.

CNA has reached out to Sim’s office for comment.

Allowing refugees formal employment would lead to a win-win situation, Tahir said, as it allows restaurants to get workers and the country to benefit from their economic contributions.

“The government should come up with a mechanism. They let the Rohingya people stay here, and then they are not allowed to work (formally). What is the point?” he said, citing the costs of sheltering them.

“Why not give them a special card or something, and then let them work in mamak shops? They are running away from shelters, working illegally and doing business here and there. Might as well make it legal.”

GOOD IDEA OR UNSUSTAINABLE?

Arulkumar Singaraveloo, chief executive officer of the Malaysia HR Forum, which trains human resource professionals and organisations, told CNA that the proposal to hire refugees could help alleviate the shortage of foreign workers in mamak restaurants.

It would be faster to process this already-present workforce, he said, as opposed to needing foreign workers to fulfil regulatory requirements from their source country and Malaysia before employment.

“Regarding cultural integration, there may be initial challenges in assimilating refugees into the workforce. However, these challenges are likely to be temporary, as they are already in Malaysia and have, to some extent, adapted to the local culture,” he said.

“Since refugees are already in the country, providing them with legal employment would not only support industries in need – such as construction, plantations, agriculture, manufacturing, and the food and beverage sector – but also offer these refugees means to survive.”