23,730 Malaysian employees reskilled under 1MalaysiaGRIP

According to The Borneo Post, the human resources ministry has managed to get 23,730 employees across the nation re-skilled and up-skilled under the 1Malaysia Globally Recognised Industry and Professional Certification Programme (1MalaysiaGRIP) from June 2015 to 31 December 2016.

Datuk Seri Richard Riot, human resources minister, highlighted that the number included more than 1,000 employees from Sarawak.

Implemented by the human resource development fund (HRDF) under the pool fund concept, Riot added that the programme played an important role in realising the national agenda of reaching 35% skilled workforce by 2020. Currently, skilled workforce comprised 28% of the country’s total manpower.

Officiating at the Sarawak-level 1MalaysiaGRIP convocation ceremony last Friday, he said: “As far as Sarawak is concerned, the upskilling and reskilling of more than 1,000 people cost the ministry RM9 million."

The report also stated that the programme featured more than 1,000 certification courses to provide workers with means to upgrade their skills and employability.

Riot mentioned that the training of employees from both HRDF-registered and non-registered companies under 1MalaysiaGRIP was meant to provide equal opportunities to employees to upskill and reskill themselves.

In fact, the human resources ministry had set up 32 industrial training institutes (ILPs) through its skills development department to train school leavers. Not only that, the ministry has implemented many programmes under other agencies for current workers not just to be upskilled and reskilled, but also to be multi-skilled.

“I hope no more complaints is received from employees of companies not paying levy to HRDF that they can't go for the courses (under this programme). The government has allocated RM150 million (in matching grant for this purpose), and the funds have been well utilised,” he commented.

A total of 300 employees who completed their training received their certificates last friday, along with 20 companies that received their certificate of appreciation for continuous support to HRDF were also honoured.

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