6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Over 35,000 Malaysians lost jobs in 2024, 94,000 rehired via Perkeso measures
KUALA LUMPUR: Between January and July 4 this year, a total of 35,446 individuals lost their jobs due to factory and company closures nationwide.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said the figure was based on data collected from the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
"However, during the same period, Perkeso successfully facilitated 94,262 job placements involving both retrenched individuals and new job seekers," he said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
He was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Richard Riot Jaem (GPS-Serian), who asked about the ministry's action following the loss of jobs due to the closure of factories and companies in Malaysia.
Sim said the ministry, through Perkeso, implements early intervention programmes as soon as it learns of a company planning to shut down or downsize.
"These programmes aim to provide affected workers with new income-earning opportunities," he said.
Among the initiatives are MYFutureJobs profiling sessions and Perkeso's job replacement programme, which match displaced workers with new job opportunities.
Perkeso also offers upskilling and reskilling programmes to help insured individuals gain relevant skills aligned with current labour market demands.
He said during the same period, a total of 5,403 insured individuals participated in these upskilling and reskilling programmes.
"Additionally, Perkeso provides financial assistance or compensation under the Employment Insurance System Act 2017.
"Eligible workers can receive immediate aid through various benefits, including the Job Search Allowance, Early Re-employment Allowance, Reduced Income Allowance, and Dependents' Allowance, which supports next of kin if the insured person dies, is in a coma, or faces similar circumstances."
