Govt confident of reducing jobless rate to 3.5% despite MCO enforcement

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 9): The Government is confident of meeting its unemployment rate target of 3.5% in 2021, despite the current Movement Control Order 2.0 in force, as its initiatives to reduce joblessness in the country have taken into account the new normal.

Following the second National Employment Council (NEC) meeting earlier today, which was held virtually, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) estimates more than 160,000 new jobs will be created in 2021, based on committed investment.

The Government also welcomed the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and SME Association of Malaysia’s offer to assist the Government in addressing the rise in unemployment through initiatives announced in Budget 2021, especially in terms of upskilling and digitalisation.

It said the NEC Special Task Force (STF) has rolled out a strategy to address issues of unemployment and mismatch in jobs via the matching of human capital to industry needs, increasing high-skilled job opportunities, and to strengthen cooperation between academics and industry.

“Although the nation is still under MCO, the Government is optimistic of meeting its targeted [unemployment rate] as the strategic framework formed is in line with the MCO enforcement and the new normal.

“The new normal initiatives include the organising of 200 webinar sessions as well as 180 interview sessions conducted online,” said the PMO.

Meanwhile, it said those that are on the lookout for jobs may register at the one-stop MyFutureJobs portal (www.myfuturejobs.gov.my) which offers over 200,000 job opportunities.

The NEC meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and was attended by Petronas chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Nizam Salleh, Khazanah Nasional managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) CEO Tengku Muhammad Taufik and Sime Darby Bhd CEO Datuk Jeffri Salim Davidson.

Also in attendance were industry representatives including Malaysian Employers Federation president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Husman, Microsoft Malaysia managing director K Raman, Infineon Technologies (Malaysia) managing director Chee Hong Lee, Grab Malaysia managing director Sean Goh, SME Association of Malaysia chairman Datuk Michael Kang and Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.

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