ID :
31328
Thu, 11/20/2008 - 17:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/31328
The shortlink copeid
ACTION PLAN TO RESPOND TO UNEMPLOYMENT, SAYS M'SIAN PM
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The National Action Plan for Employment 2008-2010, launched Thursday, will focus on the government's response to
unemployment and under-employment of the nation's workforce, Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi said Thursday.
The prime minister said the plan sought to respond to the possible increase
in unemployment rate, the result of the global economic chaos, the nation's
heavy dependence on foreign workers, the fast-changing demands of the labour
market as well as to intensify and enhance the country's labour market
competitiveness.
"In essence, the action plan is a national agenda that aims to provide
direction and outline priorities for employment in Malaysia. In this regard, the
rebranded 'jobsmalaysia' can play a key role in facilitation, job placement and
recruitment as well as in providing a platform to ensure the successful
implementation of the National Action Plan for Employment," he said.
He said this at the opening of the National Tripartite Conference on Decent
Work at the Putra World Trade Centre here. His speech was delivered by Human
Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.
Abdullah hoped that the plan would be implemented effectively and
expeditiously and that all stakeholders, social partners and non-governmental
organisations would continue to provide feedback and work hand-in-hand with the
Human Resources Ministry to ensure the plan's success.
"Even as we are able to take comfort in the strong fundamentals of our
economy and the various initiatives that the government has put in place, we
nevertheless cannot expect to remain entirely insulated from the current global
financial crisis.
"There will inevitably be some who will be displaced or retrenched. This,
coupled with slower future employment growth due to increasing drives towards
higher value-added and technology-intensive industries, effectively means that
we must be prepared to assist those who might face some employment risk,"
Abdullah.
He said one of the three main themes of the 2009 Budget was to further
develop human capital, driven by the recognition that the quality and
contemporary relevance of the country's human capital were absolutely critical
in keeping Malaysia at par with international competition.
He said the sustainability of Malaysia's future economic growth relied
heavily on identifying and implementing human capital development priorities
now.
In this regard, the government's immediate focus would be on enhancing
skills development and training programmes, including "up-skilling and
re-skilling", and at the same time improving the quality of education.
"We will seek to instill a fundamental culture of excellence at all levels
of the workforce, both in the private and public sectors.
"We must be cognisant of the fact that the constant upgrading of our
workforce serves two important socio-economic objectives -- one, to enhance
Malaysia's global competitiveness and two, to raise average incomes of the
Malaysian workforce, leading to a better quality of life for all," he added.
Abdullah said the government's commitment towards creating a truly competitive
workforce was further evidenced by the recent announcement of the RM7 billion
(US$1=RM3.62) economic stimulus package, of which RM50 million will be used to
fund human capital development programmes.
He said that parallel to this, the Human Resources Ministry would also run
several programmes which were in line with the National Human Capital
Development Goals.
Among others, the ministry had introduced a national dual training
system with the objective of producing thousands of knowledge workers by 2010.
"As at November 2008, there were approximately 800 companies involved in
this programme. The success of such programmes depends heavily on committed
participation by stakeholders. In this instance as well as in others, I would
strongly encourage the private sector to step up their involvement and work with
the ministry," he said.
Speaking on the decent work agenda, Abdullah said it required resolve and
commitment from all relevant institutions and individuals to achieve its
objectives.
"In pursuing this agenda, we will face a myriad of challenges, ranging from
addressing underemployment, to enhancing comprehensive social protection
schemes, to developing effective mechanisms for social dialogue and tripatism.
"The practical spirit of this tripartite conference will begin to address
these challenges by fostering information exchange and forging cooperation
towards realising the objectives of the decent work agenda," he added.
The prime minister said the ultimate goal was to provide all members of the
workforce with tangible opportunities to acquire decent and productive work,
while not compromising on the ideals of freedom, equity, security and dignity.
-- BERNAMA
unemployment and under-employment of the nation's workforce, Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi said Thursday.
The prime minister said the plan sought to respond to the possible increase
in unemployment rate, the result of the global economic chaos, the nation's
heavy dependence on foreign workers, the fast-changing demands of the labour
market as well as to intensify and enhance the country's labour market
competitiveness.
"In essence, the action plan is a national agenda that aims to provide
direction and outline priorities for employment in Malaysia. In this regard, the
rebranded 'jobsmalaysia' can play a key role in facilitation, job placement and
recruitment as well as in providing a platform to ensure the successful
implementation of the National Action Plan for Employment," he said.
He said this at the opening of the National Tripartite Conference on Decent
Work at the Putra World Trade Centre here. His speech was delivered by Human
Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam.
Abdullah hoped that the plan would be implemented effectively and
expeditiously and that all stakeholders, social partners and non-governmental
organisations would continue to provide feedback and work hand-in-hand with the
Human Resources Ministry to ensure the plan's success.
"Even as we are able to take comfort in the strong fundamentals of our
economy and the various initiatives that the government has put in place, we
nevertheless cannot expect to remain entirely insulated from the current global
financial crisis.
"There will inevitably be some who will be displaced or retrenched. This,
coupled with slower future employment growth due to increasing drives towards
higher value-added and technology-intensive industries, effectively means that
we must be prepared to assist those who might face some employment risk,"
Abdullah.
He said one of the three main themes of the 2009 Budget was to further
develop human capital, driven by the recognition that the quality and
contemporary relevance of the country's human capital were absolutely critical
in keeping Malaysia at par with international competition.
He said the sustainability of Malaysia's future economic growth relied
heavily on identifying and implementing human capital development priorities
now.
In this regard, the government's immediate focus would be on enhancing
skills development and training programmes, including "up-skilling and
re-skilling", and at the same time improving the quality of education.
"We will seek to instill a fundamental culture of excellence at all levels
of the workforce, both in the private and public sectors.
"We must be cognisant of the fact that the constant upgrading of our
workforce serves two important socio-economic objectives -- one, to enhance
Malaysia's global competitiveness and two, to raise average incomes of the
Malaysian workforce, leading to a better quality of life for all," he added.
Abdullah said the government's commitment towards creating a truly competitive
workforce was further evidenced by the recent announcement of the RM7 billion
(US$1=RM3.62) economic stimulus package, of which RM50 million will be used to
fund human capital development programmes.
He said that parallel to this, the Human Resources Ministry would also run
several programmes which were in line with the National Human Capital
Development Goals.
Among others, the ministry had introduced a national dual training
system with the objective of producing thousands of knowledge workers by 2010.
"As at November 2008, there were approximately 800 companies involved in
this programme. The success of such programmes depends heavily on committed
participation by stakeholders. In this instance as well as in others, I would
strongly encourage the private sector to step up their involvement and work with
the ministry," he said.
Speaking on the decent work agenda, Abdullah said it required resolve and
commitment from all relevant institutions and individuals to achieve its
objectives.
"In pursuing this agenda, we will face a myriad of challenges, ranging from
addressing underemployment, to enhancing comprehensive social protection
schemes, to developing effective mechanisms for social dialogue and tripatism.
"The practical spirit of this tripartite conference will begin to address
these challenges by fostering information exchange and forging cooperation
towards realising the objectives of the decent work agenda," he added.
The prime minister said the ultimate goal was to provide all members of the
workforce with tangible opportunities to acquire decent and productive work,
while not compromising on the ideals of freedom, equity, security and dignity.
-- BERNAMA
