HRDF applauds allocations to develop workers' skill, talent

KUCHING: The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) welcomes the efforts by the Malaysian government to upskill the local labour workforce, as recently announced in Budget 2020.

“On behalf of HRDF, we would like to thank the federal government under the Pakatan Harapan leadership for the budget allocation of RM50 million to the fund,” said HRDF chairman Datuk Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin in a statement yesterday.

“This allocation will empower the fund to continue its mandate to catalyse the development of a competent local workforce, contributing to the government's aspiration to drive growth and equitable outcomes towards shared prosperity.”

In recent years, Noor Farida said the fund has been at the forefront of nurturing Malaysian talent through skills' development and capacity building programmes which are geared towards Technical and Vocational Education and Training ( TVET); up-lifting the livelihood of the B40 income group; and preparing Malaysia's Small and Medium Enterprises for the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0).

These are aligned to the mission of the Ministry of Human Resources, under which the Fund operates.

With an allocated budget of RM30 million for TVET, HRDF aims to reduce the country's unemployment rate which currently stands at 3.3 per cent.

“We will continue to collaborate with the Ministry of Human Resources, industry players and employers to provide TVET training programmes catered to employ 3,000 youths from lowincome households,” she said.

“Under this initiative, the targeted B40 youths will be trained in courses with fast employability rate such as Escalator and Elevator Service and Maintenance; Housekeeping Operation; Retail Operation; Commercial Driver Training

On behalf of HRDF, we would like to thank the federal government under the Pakatan Harapan leadership for the budget allocation of RM50 million to the fund. Datuk Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin

and Certification Programme; and Professional Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Operations.

“The fund will also match the Government's allocation of RM20 million with an additional RM20 million towards up-skilling a further 4,000 Malaysians through professional certification examinations related to IR4.0.

“These certifications are aligned to the main pillars of IR4.0 and will equip talent with knowledge and skills for the Internet of Things; Cybersecurity; Big Data; and Cloud Computing, to name a few. Towards this end, the Fund will be collaborating with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation.

The Fund will also be implementing other initiatives that are aligned to the government's agenda such as the Housewives Enhancement and Reactivate Talent Scheme; the Graduates Enhancement Programme For Employability 2.0; and the Sistem Latihan Dual Nasional Apprenticeship.