Government Focuses On Six Actions To Turn Out More Competitive Workers – Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) — The government is implementing six actions to turn out a group of workers who are more competitive to mobilise the economy to a higher level.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the six actions encompassed numerous aspects including boosting skills and the income of the working group.

He said, for the first action, the government was transforming the mechanism of demand and supply of the Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET), specifically to meet the 60 per cent need of TVET from 1.5 million new jobs by 2020.

“Among the government’s latest move was the recognition of skills qualifications in public service schemes specifically for Malaysia Skills Diploma (DKM) and Malaysia Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM) issued by the Skills Development Department,” he said in his speech at the 2016 national level Worker’s Day celebration here, Sunday.

Secondly, Najib said the government was enriching skills training programmes to make them more relevant and integrated to turn out a more skilled manpower.

Najib said the government would also continue providing loan facilities to workers aspiring to boost their skills whether via upskilling, reskilling and multi-skilling programmes to support existing skills.

“Among the loan facilities provided is via the Skills Education Fund Corporation (PTK) at the rate of RM750 to RM24,000 depending on the programmes and training sector,” he said.

Under the third action, he said, the government was improving the labour laws and industrial relations practices including Malaysia’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) which gave bigger opportunities to local entrepreneurs and investors to explore new markets in 11 TPPA nations.

“TPPA does not only focus on the economic and trade aspects, in fact, it also has a chapter on labour which ensured any commercial and investment activity does not adversely affect the right and welfare of the workers,” he said.

As for the fourth action, Najib said the government expected a fairer distribution of income between capital owners and workers following the adherence to the more comprehensive minimum wages, improvement in productivity and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and improvements in the salary of TVET graduates.

“The move is expected to contribute towards increasing the mid-monthly pay from RM1,575 in 2014 to RM2,500 in 2020,” he said.

The fifth action, said Najib was empowering the social security network such as developing a simple consumer-friendly online application ‘i-PERKESO’ (Social Security Organisation) to enable the worker to communicate directly with the agency.

In addition, the government was also mulling implementing the Employment Insurance System (SIP) to improve the workers’ social protection and facilitate employers in conducting business, he said. The sixth action was related to the Occupational Safety and Health Master Plan 2016-2020 which was a continuation to an earlier plan.

Najib said the implementation of the plan prior to this succeeded in bringing down the number of accidents from 49,598 cases in 2006 to 42,148 cases in 2014 while accidents involving death dropped to 4.21 per cent from 7.24 per cent in the same period.

The celebration was attended by 7,000 workers involving 300 contingents from government departments, the private sector and workers’ unions which represented 14 million manpower in the country.

Also present were Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot, his deputy Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib and Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services president Datuk Azih Muda. — BERNAMA

 

Najib posing with awards recipient in conjunction with the 2016 national level Worker’s Day celebration at PWTC

Upskilled Workers Can Get Higher-paying Jobs – Cuepacs

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) — The government is encouraging workers to upskill in specific fields so they can get better, higher-paying jobs.

Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (CUEPACS) president Datuk Azih Muda said the effort could also help workers rise above the poverty threshold caused by the current rising cost of living.

“The importance of skilled workers was highlighted in the industrial revolution that took place over 100 years ago in the western world.

“So we should develop skilled workers, so they in turn can contribute towards producing highly skilled workers who will be paid higher wages,” he told reporters after attending the National level 2016 Labour Day Celebrations which was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at the Dewan Tun Razak, Putra World trade Centre (PWTC), here Sunday.

Najib in his speech said the government was implementing six measures to produce a working class that was more competitive in moving the economy to a higher level.

The six measures cover various aspects, including upskilling and in turn increasing the salaries of employees.

However, Azih hoped the government could also control the price of goods to ensure workers were able to buy necessities such as houses, cars, pay for utilities and provide for their children’s education expenses.

“Thus, we ask the government not only to focus on increasing salaries but also to control prices so people can afford to buy these necessities,” he said.

— BERNAMA

Azmi Abdul Aziz Of Prasarana Is Recipient Of ‘Tokoh Mahir’ Award 2016

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) — President and Chief Executive Officer of Prasarana Malaysia (Prasarana) Group Berhad, Datuk Azmi Abdul Aziz has been named recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award (Tokoh Mahir 2016), in conjunction with National Workers Day 2016.

The award was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during the celebration, with the theme ‘Skilled Workers Drive the Economy’ at Tun Razak Hall, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here Sunday.

Azmi, who has served the transport industry for over 25 years said the award would spur him to improve the public transport sector of the country.

“This award is in recognition of Prasarana. I accept this award on behalf of my colleagues. It is in recognition of our efforts in elevating public comfort when using public transport,” he told reporters, here today.

Azmi said the award confirmed that Prasarana, which he led since January 2015, is on the right track.

Prasarana works in collaboration with the Skills Development Department to empower skilled workforce in public transport by conducting programmes and courses under the Rail Academy and Bus Academy owned by Prasarana.

Azmi’s leadership was recognised when Prasarana was appointed as leader for Greater KL transport sector, Projek Usahasama Transit Ringan Automatik Sdn Bhd and Rapid KL Sdn Bhd.

Some 1,500 Prasarana staff have obtained their Malaysian Skills Certificate and developed the National Occupational Skills Standard for 19 areas of work.

Meanwhile, recipient of Tokoh Pekerja Award for Executive Group, Senior Manager of I&P Group Sdn Bhd, Ir. Dr. Ishan Ismail said the award is due to his principles and attitude.

“I am grateful to Allah because these principles, good attitude and skills win me this award. Everyone can succeed with discipline and efficient leadership,” he added.

Other recipients include teacher Mohd Fauzi Ismail of Giatmara Gerik, Perak (Tokoh Pekerja, Non-Executive Group), Director of Information Technology Department of Infineon Technologies (M) Sdn Bhd, Yau Tiam Ann (Disabled Persons Group), Malayan Banking Bhd (Large Company/GLC), Alpro Pharmacy Sdn Bhd (SME) and ON Semiconductor (Glocal Employer).

Other winners include Best Workers Union (Public Sector) won by the General Officers Union of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris while the Best Workers Union (Private Sector) was won by the Workers Union of Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Bhd.

–BERNAMA