Highlights
About IOM Malaysia
IOM Malaysia began operations in 1977 during the Indo-China refugee crisis, supporting the resettlement of over 250,000 refugees to third countries. The mission resumed in 2005 to assist with the resettlement of refugees from Myanmar and continues to expand its operational and policy portfolio. IOM is an active member of the UN Country Team and contributes to the UN Results Groups.
Historically, IOM Malaysia focused on refugee resettlement to countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and various European nations. Services include cultural orientation, flight arrangements, transit support, and interview facilitation. The Migration Health Assessment Center provides medical screenings, vaccinations, TB diagnostics, and treatment for resettling refugees.
Since 2005, IOM Malaysia has facilitated the resettlement of over 127,000 refugees and supports the voluntary return of more than 1,000 individuals to their countries of origin. From 2018, the mission broadened its work to include counter-trafficking, border governance, assisted voluntary return and reintegration, research, and private-sector collaboration on ethical recruitment and labour rights.
Key achievements include partnerships with multinational and local companies across multiple industries to strengthen ethical recruitment practices; training over 4,000 government officials on counter-trafficking and border management; and working closely with civil society organizations to deliver humanitarian support, reduce stigma, and promote vaccination among marginalized groups.
As part of the UN Country Team, IOM contributes to the development of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. IOM Malaysia remains committed to supporting the government in expanding social protection for vulnerable populations, advancing the “leave no one behind” agenda, and contributing to Malaysia’s progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and broader economic development.
- Our work in Malaysia: Strategic priorities at a national level
Strategic Priority 1: Saving lives and protecting people on the move
IOM Malaysia prioritizes the protection of vulnerable migrants – including asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons, and those at risk due to irregular status, discrimination, or limited access to services. Efforts focus on reducing vulnerabilities, safeguarding dignity, and expanding equitable access to essential support. IOM delivers rights‑based, trauma‑informed assistance such as case management, shelter, health, and psychosocial services, while addressing barriers like documentation gaps and fear of arrest. The mission strengthens government and frontline capacities to identify and respond to trafficking, exploitation, abuse, and gender‑based violence through referral pathways and Standard Operating Procedures. Additional actions include combating stigma, integrating survivor‑led feedback systems, ensuring compliance with PSEAH (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Harassment) standards, and mainstreaming gender, age, disability, and cultural sensitivity in all programming.
Strategic Priority 2: Driving solutions to displacement
IOM Malaysia promotes long‑term solutions for displaced and stateless communities by supporting safety, dignity, and inclusion. This includes improving access to education, skills, and livelihood opportunities to build self‑reliance, and implementing community‑based integration and resilience initiatives for women, youth, and minority groups. Transitional support covers shelter, health care, psychosocial assistance, and pathways to legal status. IOM also prevents statelessness through civil registration for at‑risk children and works with legal aid partners to advance inclusive policies. Preparedness efforts include mobility tracking, early warning systems, and contingency planning. IOM further supports voluntary return and reintegration through livelihoods, housing, psychosocial care, and community linkages, while sharing evidence to strengthen national policy frameworks.
Strategic Priority 3: Facilitating pathways for regular migration
IOM Malaysia advances ethical and rights‑based labour migration that supports migrants and national development. The mission promotes fair recruitment standards, trains employers and recruitment agencies, and works to eliminate abusive practices. IOM enhances migrant and refugee access to rights information, financial literacy, and health and safety guidance; supports skills development and certification; and links workers to employment opportunities across ASEAN and beyond. Governance support includes technical assistance, data systems, and inter‑agency coordination, while private‑sector engagement strengthens decent work conditions, responsible supply chains, and ESG compliance.
Strategic Priority 4: Strengthening Migration Governance for Resilience, Inclusion, and Climate Preparedness
IOM Malaysia strengthens national and local capacities for resilient, inclusive migration governance amid shifting mobility patterns and climate‑related risks. Actions include anticipatory governance, displacement‑sensitive climate planning, improved data and mobility tracking, and multi‑stakeholder coordination. IOM builds institutional capacity in disaster planning, early warning, ethical data use, and human rights, while promoting governance models that include migrant and community participation. Evidence generation and risk‑informed planning support a future‑oriented governance ecosystem for Malaysia.
Migration outlook for the country
According to the Malaysian Department of Statistics, the total of non-citizens in Malaysia in 2025 is estimated at 3.38 million, which makes up 9.9 per cent of the country’s population of 34.1 million. Migrants in Malaysia mostly originate from Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and other Asian countries in smaller numbers including India, Cambodia, and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Labour migration has emerged as a key component to address labour shortages within essential economic industries such as the manufacturing, construction, plantations, agriculture, and domestic care sectors. The number of regular migrant workers employed in these sectors reached nearly 2.5 million employers in September 2024. The presence of regular migrants also requires employers to pay for health and insurance government programmes which support social protection schemes, among other benefits to the overall Malaysia economy.
As of January 2026, there are some 215,290 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia. The vast majority (90%) are from Myanmar comprising Rohingya, Chin and other ethnic groups. The remaining refugees originate from 50 countries fleeing war and persecution including some Pakistanis (3%), Yemenis (2%), Somalis (1%), Afghans (1%) Syrians, Sri Lankans, Palestinians, Iraqis, and others make up for the rest.
- Synergies with national priorities
IOM Malaysia’s strategy priorities closely align with Malaysia’s National Development Goals, the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030) – which emphasizes inclusive, sustainable, and resilient development, and UN frameworks by advancing inclusive growth, human rights protection, and regional cooperation.
Aligned with Malaysia’s National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights 2025–2030, IOM partners with the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers to deliver ethical recruitment workshops for small- and medium-sized enterprises nationwide, strengthening migrant worker rights and responsible business practices. IOM is also a member of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Impact Alliance to integrate fair recruitment into sustainable palm oil certification and inform migrant workers of rights through PAO curriculum, protecting and upholding the rights of migrant workers. IOM also supports the government’s anti-trafficking agenda through NSO MAPO-led legal capacity-building trainings and NAPTIP 4.0 consultations, reinforcing prosecution and protection mechanisms. Additionally, IOM’s collaboration with NADMA on disaster risk reduction aligns with national climate resilience goals, protecting displaced communities during floods.
In line with UNSDCF’s focus on leaving no one behind, IOM provides ECHO-supported cash aid to vulnerable refugees for basic needs and collaborates with UNHCR on resettlement and Train-to-Hire initiatives, fostering inclusive development. Regionally, IOM’s role as ANDEX secretariat and participation in the Bali Process advance Malaysia’s ASEAN Chair 2025 priorities of safe migration and countering transnational crime.
These efforts collectively integrate migrant welfare into national development, aligning with UN sustainable development and human rights objectives while supporting Malaysia’s vision of equitable, resilient growth.
- Partnerships and coordination
Effective migration governance in Malaysia requires close collaboration across government, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the UN system. IOM Malaysia applies a whole-of-government, whole-of-society, and whole-of-UN approach to ensure migration is managed in a humane, safe, and development-oriented manner.
IOM works in close cooperation with key federal and state authorities, as well as regional and international counterparts, to advance policy dialogue, strengthen institutional capacity, and support effective operational responses. This includes active engagement with relevant ministries, agencies, and state governments on policy coherence, labour migration, protection, health, border management, and regional cooperation.
Within the UN system, IOM contributes to collective outcomes under the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework and leads coordination on migration-related issues through the UN Network on Migration. IOM collaborates closely with UN agencies, regional bodies, civil society organizations, migrant-led groups, and community-based organizations to ensure programmes are inclusive, evidence-based, and responsive to the needs of vulnerable populations.
Meanwhile, the engagement with the private sector focuses on promoting ethical recruitment, responsible business practices, and decent work in supply chains. Collaboration with industry associations, multinational companies, and local employers supports compliance with international labour standards and improves protections for migrant workers.
At the regional level, IOM supports Malaysia’s active participation in ASEAN, APEC, and bilateral dialogues to advance cooperation on migration management, trafficking prevention, labour mobility, and disaster preparedness.
- Job vacancies
Being a member of the IOM team requires the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. IOM also aims to maintain an equitable geographical balance among its staff. As such, our recruitment efforts target, but are not necessarily limited to, nationals of our Member States. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek committed professionals with a wide variety of skills in the field of migration. IOM staff work in multi-cultural environments, in which diversity and cultural sensitivity are valued.
Job Title Type Application date Closing Date - Supply chain management
Notices Closing Date - Contact us
International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Malaysia 570, Jalan Bukit Petaling
50460 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: +603 9235 5400
Fax: +603 2145 1094
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IOMMalaysiaIf you have been accepted for resettlement and want to provide updated information to IOM Malaysia, you may email the IOM Resettlement and Movement Management unit at [email protected] or call +603 9235 5400. For protection and assistance and other inquiries, please contact UNHCR directly through the web pages on the UNHCR website https://refugeemalaysia.org/contact/
If you have any inquiries or require support and assistance for matters related to assisted voluntary return and reintegration (AVRR), kindly email [email protected]
