PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry has unveiled the inaugural National Human Resources Framework, which focuses on critical areas such as fair compensation and job welfare.
Minister Steven Sim said the landmark framework was crafted after meticulous consideration of feedback from stakeholders and the public collected through engagement sessions, focus group discussions, town halls and online surveys.
He said the framework was enriched by more than 2,000 items of feedback, shaping its comprehensive coverage of pivotal worker-related concerns.
This includes equitable wage structures, improving job welfare, empowering labour unions and strengthening social security measures.
"The framework also prioritises the protection and advancement of vulnerable worker groups, such as women, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
"It also addresses emerging labour issues in the gig economy, skill training imperatives, employment mismatches, foreign worker management and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the employment landscape."
Sim said this at the national Labour Day celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre yesterday, also attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Themed "Pekerja Kesuma Bangsa", this year's Labour Day celebration saw the introduction of two new award categories to the existing ten, reflecting the evolution of worker recognition and contribution.
Sim said the framework would be a guiding compass in formulating a robust National Human Resources Policy in alignment with the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).
"Kesuma endeavours to pioneer as one of the first ministries with a seminal policy document that seamlessly integrates with the RMK-13 framework."
He said the ministry acknowledged that the struggle to empower workers was ongoing.
"Kesuma realises that better wage compensation is closely related to higher productivity and can be achieved with higher skills.
"This year, Kesuma will go all out to implement high-value skill training for Malaysians.
"Kesuma will allocate RM2.56 billion to provide skill training for Malaysians, including in AI, robotics, computer coding, 5G technology and skills in the green economy."
Sim said as part of the 100-day reform initiative, the ministry had undertaken 80 transformative measures under four themes: fairer remuneration for workers, enhanced worker skills, broader social safety nets and improved governance.
He said Malaysia had recorded the highest employment figure in history at 16.51 million workers.
"This year, we are initiating a review of the minimum wage. A decade-long study has revealed the positive impact of the minimum wage on low-income earners, with individual monthly wage seeing an almost 60 per cent increase from 2010 to 2019.
"We acknowledge that relying on minimum wage isn't adequate, particularly for those in the middle-income bracket.
"Thus, one of the government's strategies to enhance wage conditions for workers is to introduce a progressive wage policy to drive better compensation."
Sim said the pilot project for the policy, in collaboration with the Economy Ministry, would commence in June, targeting 1,000 companies.
He said the government had earmarked RM50 million for this pilot initiative and about 1.05 million workers were expected to benefit from it.