1 million job opportunities through MyApprenticeship

KUALA LUMPUR: The MyApprenticeship programme will provide one million additional job opportunities for Malaysians, said Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
Najib, who is also caretaker Finance Minister, said the programme provided opportunities for apprenticeship in both the public and private sectors till 2019, targeting women and youths.
He said the MyApprenticeship programme was decided upon at the National Blue Ocean Strategy meeting on Feb 22 whereby the Human Resource Ministry and the Finance Ministry would act as the facilitators.
Najib said the government was also committed to creating three million job opportunities specifically for the high income bracket in the next five years as pledged in the Barisan Nasional manifesto for the 14th general election.
"This is a comprehensive strategy by the government based its achievements since 2010. We succeeded in creating 2.26 million job opportunities," he said when launching the MyApprenticeship programme here today.
According to Najib, MyApprenticeship, which is his brainchild, was a big agenda of the country to produce skilled and competent workers in various fields besides assuring jobs that promised higher income.
"This programme is a reflection of comprehensive efforts (taken), as well as empowering human capital to guarantee job opportunities and training that is wholesome and inclusive. It will provide job skills suited to current and future needs in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0)," he said.
To make MyApprenticeship a success, Najib said the government needed to forge close collaboration between the public sector, government-linked companies and the private sector to provide apprenticeship opportunities through a training system that is systematic.
He said the government had agreed to give double deduction tax incentive to all companies coming on board to realise the MyApprenticeship programme.
At the event which was attended by more than 6,000 youths, the Prime Minister also launched the MyApprenticeship portal aimed at facilitating information, registration, searches and matching of apprenticeship schemes among training providers.
"This portal will act as a One Stop Platform on apprenticeship opportunities, jobs available including matching apprenticeship programmes with suitable employers based on the field of employment," he said.
Najib also witnessed exchange on 18 documents on collaboration and MoUs involving government agencies and the private sector entailing 3,000 places in apprenticeship schemes.
Among the companies were AirAsia Bhd, Malindo Airways Sdn Bhd, Gamuda Bhd, Brahim's Sats Food Services Sdn Bhd, Eco World Development Group Bhd, Western Digital (M) Sdn Bhd and 7-11 Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
The one-day event also had 73 booths showcasing a career fair, apprenticeship schemes, walk-in-interviews for job vacancies, seminars on IR4.0 and talks.— Bernama