Malaysia needs serious reforms of skill-based employees

Malaysia is in need of more skill-based employees as the nation steers towards becoming a developed nation by 2020.

To remain competitive in a globalised economy, Malaysia must strive to enhance the skills of workers, increase their productivity and maintain upward mobility in the country's workforce growth.

Malaysian Institute of Human Resource Management president, Aresandiran J. stated strong emphasis should be given on education rather than skills development.

"It is a positive move that the government is placing more focus on skills development and recognises vocational education," he said to Astro AWANI.

Aresandiran opined that it was crucial for employers to focus on improving their skills in their companies towards economic development, while also reconciling national concerns.

"We have to focus more on industrial skills, identify the kind of skills each and specific industry requires for example, in the oil and gas and automotive sectors," he said.

One of the seven key strategies outlined by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during the tabling of the People Economy-themed Budget 2015 on Friday is the development of human capital and entrepreneurship.

WATCH THE PRIME MINISTER'S SPEECH HERE: Third strategy: Developing human capital and entrepreneurship

Under this umbrella, the government is allocating RM56 billion of which RM1.2 billion will be used for Vocational and Technical Transformation Programme (TEVT).

Najib, in his speech, said the government would introduce a new programme called, 'Globally Recognised Industry and Professional Certification', also known as '1MalaysiaGRIP' with an allocation of RM300 million worth of grants between the government and the Human Resources Development Fund to train 30,000 employees.

In addition, the government would also add the number of training programmes in institutes under the purview of Department of Labour (JTK) which involves students with Malaysia Skills Certificate, university or college graduates as well as industry and skilled workers.