30,977 insured workers laid off, relocated in employment sector

Human Resource Minister, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan told the Dewan Rakyat today that another 93,204 individuals were relocated through the hiring incentive programme.

He said the government would continue Socso's hiring initiative known as Penjana Kerjaya, including by increasing the incentive for workers with an income of RM1,500 and above from a flat rate of RM800 per month to 40 per cent of their monthly income, limited to a maximum of RM4,000 per month.

"To increase job opportunities for people with disabilities, the long-term unemployed and retrenched workers, employers will be given an additional incentive of 20 per cent, bringing the total incentive to 60 per cent," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2021 at the committee stage for the ministry.

Meanwhile, he said that as at Nov 27, Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (PSMB) had approved 62,255 trainees to participate in schemes introduced to help people to get jobs, besides increasing their skills.

Saravanan said the ministry had also requested for an additional allocation of RM30.5 million from the Finance Ministry to organise career carnivals next year.

On foreign workers, he said the ministry would cooperate with the Home Ministry on data sharing in managing foreign workers including reducing their number and replacing them with local workers, according to industry suitability.

The allocation for the Human Resource Ministry was later passed at the committee stage after receiving majority support through a voice note.

Earlier, the allocation for the Youth and Sports Ministry was also approved through a majority voice note.