KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has pledged to create three million jobs for youths in its manifesto.
Among the initiatives are to expand the high-tech industry, which would in turn lead to the creation of more high-skilled jobs. BN also aims to increase graduates’ employability through structured internships and soft skills training for public university students.
The manifesto also aims to provide more jobs for youths who are either disabled or from underprivileged backgrounds by providing skills and job training opportunities.
Around 1.3 million employment opportunities are expected to be available in the development of the Malaysian Vision Valley (MVV) project in Negri Sembilan, while 10,000 jobs could be added through social entrepreneurship by government-linked companies (GLCs) offering funds for youths.
BN also aims to create 50,000 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) job opportunities, through TVET bootcamps (3 to 6 months) that are developed with potential employers.
TVET training will also be offered to former juvenile convicts, drug-abusers and women who became pregnant out of wedlock, in addition to the establishment of the Second Chance Fund.
BN also aims to introduce more flexible working hours in the public sector and reduce dependency on foreign workers. This includes preparing Malaysians below the age of 30 with jobs or the requisite training to secure employment within six months.
BN has also pledged to increase tax incentives for companies who hire people with disabilities. It also vowed to create more job opportunities via a special one-stop online portal for them to upload their credentials or market their services.
Sectors will also be encouraged to include more disabled people in various sectors including being council members of local authorities and members of the Senate.
FAST FACTS
• Introduce Maahad Tahfiz graduates with apprenticeships and internship programmes at companies in the Halal industry
• Apprenticeship Malaysia programme in five pilot industries to increase employability of unemployed graduates
• Career Cross Assignment programmes with government-linked companies (GLCs), government-linked investment companies (GLIC) and statutory bodies to empower young public service employees
• Expanding apprenticeship programmes in GLCs.
• Creating digital training opportunities at 1Malaysia Internet Centres to prepare rural youths for jobs of the future
• Providing routine, unconditional health screening at Government health clinics for youths aged 35 and 40 years
• Expanding the use of Youth Entrepreneurial Network (YEN) as a one-stop portal that streamlines all services, information, opportunities and assistance for youth entrepreneurs
• To Increase the number of rural youth entrepreneurs by expanding the Rural Business Challenge (RBC)
• Offer training that enable youths to undergo Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) or purchase software needed for work purposes