THE establishment of the National Employment Council will focus on efforts to create nearly 500,000 new job as well as address unemployment, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said the council will also involve the private sector and skilled groups to assist the government, besides providing views on steps needed to achieve this purpose. 

“Among the people’s concerns at this time is the issue of employment, whether they keep their jobs, get dismissed or are unemployed.

“In this regard, this is a step forward so we can manage the problem of unemployment, including among graduates and those provided with upskilling and reskilling training, who we can retrain so they are provided with suitable jobs.

“That is why the cabinet decided to establish the council. In most countries, there is such a council… we also have (something similar) but (they work) in silo. Many committees are formed but they do not provide measures to generate new jobs,” he said on the Agenda Awani talk show tonight.

Muhyiddin said reskilling and upskilling training for some unemployed groups are currently ongoing, to enable them to adapt to jobs that will be generated through new economic activities.

At the tabling of Budget 2021 yesterday, the government announced the establishment of the council, to be chaired by Muhyiddin. The council will coordinate various initiatives across ministries and agencies to create employment opportunities, skills upgrading and training of workers.

At the same time, Muhyiddin said various incentives will also be given to investors, both from within and outside the country for at least two years as part of the government’s efforts to create more employment opportunities.

“We can see the current situation we are in. Not only has the bottom 40 group grown larger, the middle 40 group is also shrinking due to loss of jobs.

“This situation requires us to provide employment opportunities, manage (the situation) so that no Malaysian workers are laid off, (and) that is why wage subsidy assistance is given to help companies face this difficult situation,” he said. – Bernama, November 7, 2020.