HRDF: Programmes help reduce youth unemployment rate

KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) applauds the Malaysian government on its recent Budget 2019 announcement by Minister of Finance Lim Guan Eng.

“Towards this, the fund is thankful to the Malaysian Government with entrusting it to assist in the skills upgrading of Malaysian youth and school leavers and improving the marketability of local graduates through the allocation of a RM20 million matching grant for the implementation of the Fund’s Apprenticeship Programme and the Graduate Enhancement Programme for Employability (GENERATE), respectively.

“As an agency under the purview of the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR), HRDF is especially encouraged by the Government’s timely response towards reducing the country’s youth unemployment rate which currently stands at 13.2 per cent.

“The Agency will continue to support the efforts of MoHR on enhancing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Malaysia,” it said in a statement.

The HRDF Apprenticeship Programme targets school leavers and dropouts from Penilaian Menengah Rendah/PT3 or Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia.

To date, 74 per cent of its trainees have successfully secured job placements within six months of programme completion. Meanwhile GENERATE — which aims to equip, develop and assist unemployed graduates — saw 98 per cent of the programme’s trainees employed in key economic sectors within six months of completing the programme.

“On this note, the Fund will harmonise efforts on the implementation of both programmes with MoHR, the Industry and its registered employers and training providers,” it added.

“It will hold its public service to the highest standards of integrity and ensure that the outcomes of both these programmes are driven by merit.”