New Straits Times

SOCSO STEPS UP EMPLOYMENT DRIVE

It holds 2-day job interviews in response to layoffs

- KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my TEOH PEI YING

THE Social Security Organisati­on (Socso) ushers in the new year with a series of job interviews nationwide for more than 3,056 vacancies, via its Employment Insurance System (EIS).

Fifty employers are participat­ing in the two-day open interviews at Socso state offices yesterday and today.

Among the companies are Jakel Trading, St Jude Medical Operation Sdn Bhd and Park Inn by Radisson Putrajaya.

Socso’s chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said one of the reasons Socso decided to organise the nationwide open job interviews was the many cases of employment loss, even at the tailend of last month.

He said the recent Media Prima Bhd retrenchme­nt exercise, involving more than 900 employees, was just one example.

“I can only imagine the plight of those who lost their jobs in December, as they have to take care of a lot of expenditur­e, especially those who have children going to school or pursuing higher education.

“Last year, 40,084 individual­s submitted claims for loss of employment, believed to be the effects of digitalisa­tion. The job loss statistics as reported to Socso’s EIS are certainly of great concern to us.”

Azman said as a public employment services provider, Socso would ensure its contributo­rs who had to go through such a phase were not only provided with cash benefits, but also other job opportunit­ies as soon as possible.

He said the two-day job interviews were in addition to Socso’s regular weekly or monthly open job interviews, as well as its Employabil­ity, Graduate Empowermen­t and School Leavers programmes.

The interview sessions today are held at Wisma Perkeso Petaling Jaya and Wisma Perkeso Melaka from 9am to 5pm.

Updates on EIS Socso open job interviews are available on www.perkeso.gov.my and EIS Perkeso Facebook, or call 1300220-8000 for more informatio­n.

EIS came into effect on Jan 1, 2018, consisting of two components, namely employment insurance (EI) and employment services (ES).

EI provides temporary financial assistance for up to six months depending on the contributi­on qualifying conditions, while ES assists beneficiar­ies in securing employment opportunit­ies.

Socso’s ES is not confined to beneficiar­ies. All job seekers, including graduates and school leavers, can apply.

 ?? PIC BY NURUL SHAFINA JEMENON ?? Several staff members from Media Prima Bhd and the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd attending the Social Security Organisati­on’s Employment Insurance System open job interviews at Wisma Perkeso in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
PIC BY NURUL SHAFINA JEMENON Several staff members from Media Prima Bhd and the New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd attending the Social Security Organisati­on’s Employment Insurance System open job interviews at Wisma Perkeso in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
 ??  ?? Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed
Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Malaysia