PETALING JAYA: The Statistics Department (DOSM) says the unemployment rate for 2020 is projected at 5.5% as a result of the movement control order (MCO) to stop the spread of Covid-19.
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This would be the highest rate since 1989 when unemployment stood at 5.7%.
Previously, DOSM reported the unemployment rate remained 4.7% in August with a small reduction in the number to 741,600 aged 15 to 64. Compared to July, this was a reduction of 0.5%.
The impact during and after the pandemic cannot be viewed lightly. Both DOSM and Khazanah Research Institute believe Covid-19 has impacted the unemployment rate since March.
With economic activities expected to be affected by the pandemic, many, particularly the youth, are expected to be affected.
On the government’s part, it has rolled out initiatives to help the youth in its Prihatin and Kita Prihatin packages.
The aid provided include the one-off Prihatin Bujang payment of RM800, the one-off RM500 payment to e-hailing drivers and the one-off RM200 Bantuan Prihatin Nasional payment to Form 6 students, diploma students and those in institutions of higher learning.
But the one-off payments are not the solution to the long-term problems faced by youth, particularly those who have completed their studies and set to enter the job market.
As such, programmes to increase their marketability and efforts to help them and graduates gain experience need to be implemented. All parties need to focus on the expansion of job training and apprenticeship, upskilling, reskilling and cross-skilling programmes.
The National Apprenticeship Scheme (SPN) was launched by Youth and Sports Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Senior Minister for Infrastructure Fadillah Yusof and Human Resources Minister M Saravanan on July 22.
This multi-ministry collaboration is an initiative of the youth and sports ministry to boost the employability of youth and provide opportunities for training and working.
The objectives of this programme include:
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Increasing the marketability of apprentices through “soft skills” and on-the-job training;
Providing a support system for youth to help them get jobs;
Helping to reduce the unemployment rate among youth; and
The programme is based on the Human Resources Development Fund’s (HRDF) “place and train” concept, and the aim is for 5,000 people to sign up.
Apprentices will get a mobility allowance if they are transferred or move to a workplace over 100km away.
Those moving within Peninsular, Sabah, Sarawak or Labuan will get RM600 while those moving from East Malaysia to West Malaysia or vice-versa will get RM1,000.
This one-off payment will be made once an apprentice reports for duty.
Additionally, apprentices will get “soft skills” training for free, including on public speaking, writing techniques, negotiation skills, critical thinking and resolving disputes.
This adds value to the apprentices’ own achievements, and indirectly benefits their employers and company.
Already, several companies have signed up to participate in the SPN, including companies registered under HRDF and InvestKL partners.
Companies participating in the SPN can claim wage subsidies under the Penjana initiative of RM600 per person for six months from Socso and training subsidies from HRDF of RM4,000 per person.
As of Nov 23, a total of 397 people have participated in the training with 376 benefitting from job placement.
Some 67 companies are participating in the SPN programme to provide training and job opportunities for youths.
Youths who are interested and qualify can apply for the SPN programme through perantisan.kbs.gov.my.
Employers and companies who wish to participate and provide training and job opportunities to youth can contact the SPN secretariat at spn@kbs.gov.my or 03-8871 3265/ 3264 / 3463. – FMT