ALOR GAJAH: V.Sivakumar announced efforts to reduce reliance on foreign workers. The Human Resources Minister stated that all agencies under his ministry are focused on ensuring 100% local employees in crucial sectors. “We are striving to achieve the reduction of foreign employment in the country. The dependency on foreign workers is still high, hence, I am encouraging employers to focus on absorbing locals,” he said after launching his Ministry’s programme at Pulau Sebang here on Saturday (Oct 7).
Sivakumar also revealed that the unemployment rate in the country has continued to fall. In the first quarter of 2023, the rate recorded was 3.5%, compared to 3.6% in the fourth quarter of 2022. He credited this decrease to a significant shift in job-seeking trends and the implementation of various initiatives by the government to assist job seekers aged 40 and above. “There is indeed a changing trend in job searches, especially after Covid-19; many people lost their jobs and then sought employment opportunities that match their interests and skills,” he said.
Sivakumar provided data from the MYFutureJobs Portal, revealing that 455,350 job seekers nationwide were successfully placed in various sectors from 2022 until September 2023. He added that this trend signifies a positive indication that more people are starting to work while the unemployment rate is decreasing.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
