KUALA LUMPUR: More than 130,000 graduates have benefitted from the 1Malaysia Training Scheme (SL1M) since it was introduced in 2011.
The stint with SL1M has helped improve their marketability as more than 90 per cent of the trainees have secured work either by the companies that trained them or by others.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Senator Datuk Seri S. K. Devamany said the programme was conducted by companies as part of their corporate social responsibility in giving back to the community by providing opportunities for fresh graduates to gain work experience.
“From the total, 139,398 SL1M trainees up to Oct this year, 58,354 graduates secured the training stint by receiving structural training given by companies participating in the SL1M programme.
“The remaining 81,044 graduates were assisted through SL1M career carnivals or ‘search and assist’ SL1M which was conducted nationwide,” said Devamany answering the question by Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai) in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said the program does not guarantee a permanent job for the trainee, nor does it force the training company to absorb the trainees as their staff.
“However those who show good performance throughout their stint, have a higher possibility of being absorbed as a full time staff,” he said.
Prior to the training programme, trainee would undergo a soft skill training session for two months before a 10 months on-job training with the company they are attached to.
Training provided by the companies’ aims to increase the graduates’ efficiency and competency as well as to learn technical skills according to the company’s needs. -- Reporting by ARFA YUNUS, FERNANDO FONG AND BEATRICE NITA JAY