Malaysia can achieve target of 3.6 pct increase in productivity this year - MPC

MPC director-general Datuk Abdul Latif Abu Seman said the projection could be achieved this year with the support of the public and private sectors with the implementation of the initiatives planned in the productivity action plan under the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint (MPB) especially for the 11 main sub-sectors led by the Productivity Nexus.

Citing a statement from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, labour productivity for the second quarter of 2022 increased by 5.5 per cent which was a higher increase compared to 2.7 per cent in the first quarter.

"This means Malaysia is on the right track. Increased labour productivity is driven by productivity in the services sector which increased by 7.5 per cent, the manufacturing sector by four per cent and the construction sector by 2.9 per cent.

"This is a success after the transition to the endemic phase starting April 1, 2022," he said in a statement today.

Abdul Latif said the MPC implemented various strategies in realising the target of increasing productivity, among which was the initiative to produce future talent which targeted 10,000 new skill enhancement of private sector workers for the year 2022.

MPC also empowers the industry in implementing the national productivity improvement programme through the Productivity Nexus platform.

"MPC also focuses on the development of technology and digitalisation which is what this effort is all about in line with the initiative under the National Policy on Industry4WRD led by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI)," he said.

MPC aims for 260 companies to receive Readiness Assessment (RA) approval this year.

Abdul Latif said the MPC digital workshop through Myreskill IOT provided to employees affected during the pandemic, especially in private organisations, also increased productivity growth and economy.

"The role of MITI together with MPC and the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is able to realise the industrial transformation agenda by making technology and digitalisation a strategic variable to drive the country's productivity," he added.