For those who may be facing difficulties in securing employments, do look into one of these initiatives by the Malaysian Government rolled out under the 2022 National Budget. Photo by Jason Goodman on Unsplash.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Malaysia’s unemployment rate rose to 5.3 per cent in May 2020.
While it has moderated to 4.6 per cent in August 2021, nearly 750,000 individuals remain unemployed and are in need of assistance.
In this uncertain period, young working adults are among those that are most affected in facing unemployment.
Fortunately, the 2022 National Budget is stepping out to help the public including youths in generating and sustaining jobs and employment.
“In line with the spirit of guaranteeing jobs, for the upcoming year (2022), the Government under the Jamin Kerja Keluarga Malaysia (JaminKerja) initiative will guarantee 600,000 job opportunities with and allocation of RM4.8 billion,” said Minister of Finance YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul bin Tengku Abdul Aziz.
The JaminKerja initiative includes:
- JaminKerja employment incentives
- Malaysia Short-term Employment Programmes (MySTEP)
- Upskilling and reskilling programmes
JaminKerja via the Social Security Organisation (SOSCO) will benefit 300,000 job seekers with an allocation of RM2 billion.
“Under this initiative, for employers who hire Malaysians who have not been actively employed, the Government will provide an incentive of 20 per cent of the monthly salary for the first six months and 30 per cent for the next six months subject to jobs with a salary of RM1,500 and above,” said Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul.
In generating and sustaining jobs, the Government will also continue with MySTEP.
MySTEP will offer 80,000 contract employment opportunities covering 50,000 jobs within the public sector and 30,000 jobs within government-linked companies (GLC) from January 2022.
Aside from that, the budget has allocated RM1.1 billion that targets 220,000 trainees to undergo various upskilling and reskilling programmes.
“Among the programmes that will be implemented is the place and train programme, which is a training programme which guaranteed placement into employment,” said Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul.
He added that based on the implementation of the reskilling and upskilling programme under the 2021 Budget, more than 85 per cent of trainees have been offered job placements.
“It is hoped that through the implementation of the JaminKerja initiative as well as the economic recovery measures, the country’s unemployment rate will reduce to 4 per cent, thus returning the nation to full employment,” said Dato’ Sri Zafrul.
In addition to JaminKerja, the Budget will be providing an allowance of RM900 to students that undergo industry training programmes.
“Practical real work exposure is very important in learning to face the challenging realities at work.
“Thus, we call on the private sector to also provide a monthly allowance of at least RM900 for the services rendered by such students,” said the Minister of Finance.
On a related matter, the Government has provided incentives to employers who hire apprentices, namely school leavers and graduates aged 18 to 30 years.
For 2022, the Government will increase the monthly incentive from RM800 to RM900 for a period of up to six months.
To encourage youths to run their own businesses, the Government is providing an allocation of RM150 million to Bank Simpanan Nasional and Agrobank to facilitate youth entrepreneurship.
