Tenaganita acknowledges the government’s decision to expedite the processing of 15,000 foreign worker applications to address labour shortages in key economic sectors. While responding to labour market demands is important, accelerating recruitment alone will not resolve the structural challenges that continue to undermine Malaysia’s labour migration system. Addressing labour shortages requires tackling the root causes that make many jobs difficult to fill, including low wages, poor working conditions and weak labour protections. As Malaysia continues to explore long-term workforce solutions, refugees who are legally permitted to work could also contribute meaningfully to sectors experiencing genuine labour shortages. Improving the quality of work must form part of any long-term strategy to address labour shortages while ensuring decent working conditions for both Malaysian and migrant workers alike.