THE Malaysian government is preparing to extend working rights to all refugees, not just the 800 to be sent from Australia.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's commissioner, James Nayagam, said refugees will be fingerprinted under a program to document all foreign workers. He said the move would include refugees carrying ID cards issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Malaysia's Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (L) and Australia's Immigration Minister Chris Bowen. Credit:Reuters

The special treatment, particularly the legal right to work, granted to the 800 asylum seekers to come from Australia under the Malaysia swap deal, has been described as unfair by Burmese refugees in Malaysia.

Mr Nayagam told The Age the amendments to the biometric scheme were made on Tuesday.