HUMAN Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran today dismissed a claim by the Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) that about 30,000 people will lose their jobs this year.

“On the contrary, with less than 24,000 unemployment (positions) recorded last year, there are actually more jobs readily available for them. 

“The unemployment rate shows nothing unusual, nothing frightening,” he said after witnessing the signing of a collective agreement between Continental Tyre Malaysia Sdn Bhd and the Continental Tyre Malaysia Sdn Bhd Staff Association in Petaling Jaya today. 

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan had said recently that he estimated some 30,000 workers would be laid off this year, citing the increasing cost of doing business as the main reason for the jump in retrenchment number.

Shamsuddin had said that the economic environment both within and without Malaysia was tough, posing a big challenge for employers in maintaining their profitability. – Bernama, February 18, 2019.