Over 4,000 former inmates in Malaysia gain employment through reintegration push

Thousands of ex-offenders have re-entered the workforce in sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and agriculture through SOCSO’s career matching efforts and hiring incentives.

More than 4,000 individuals who have completed their prison sentences have re-entered the workforce through a career matching initiative by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO).

As reported by Bernama, Steven Sim, Minister of Human Resources, said since 2020, a total of 4,105 rehabilitated individuals has been placed in jobs under this initiative. He added that the five sectors with the highest recruitment were manufacturing, construction, agriculture, food services, as well as wholesale and retail trade.

Minister Sim was further quoted as saying that supporting vulnerable groups, including current and former inmates, is part of the government’s wider strategy to strengthen the local workforce and reduce reliance on foreign labour. He cited 2024 data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), noting that Malaysia's total employment stands at 16.78mn, with more than 2.3mn or 13.7% made up of foreign workers. He said this highlights the urgency of tapping into local talent more inclusively, including recognising the contributions that rehabilitated former prisoners can make to the economy.

In line with this, Bernama reported, Minister Sim noted that to encourage more employers to come on board, SOCSO offers a monthly incentive of RM600 for three months to those hiring from this group. Such efforts, the minister added, not only ease the reintegration journey but also send a strong signal about valuing local capabilities.

Lead image / PERKESO Facebook