1Malaysia Training Scheme (SL1M) is a key platform to unlock the potential of graduates as they benefit from the human capital development modules designed to boost employability.
SL1M is a programme under the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department. Since its inception in 2011, about 144,000 job-seekers have benefited from the programme.
This year, the programme, which kicked off in the central zone, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) on Saturday.
Najib said many youth went to the job interview with a great hope to change their future.
“It is a commitment of a responsible government to help the youth in their journey to gain employment,”he said.
“When we made a manifesto in 2009 to help in employment, we have kept to our promise, and since then, 2.6 million jobs have been created,” he said.
Najib said SL1M was a government initiative to ensure employment would not only be determined by market forces.
“I have made it mandatory for government-linked companies and the private sector to carry out SL1M at their respective companies to secure government contracts. It is not only about making profit, but also about giving back to society. It is important to have a government that supports the system of fair and equitable chance for everyone,” he said.
Najib said the country also introduced agriculture as a source of wealth and built entrepreneurial skills among the youth, as well as skills relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
He also announced an increment in the monthly SL1M allowance from RM1,500 to RM2,000. The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd.
At the event, which was attended by corporate leaders and industry captains, Najib also presented awards to deserving employers.
The awards include the Diamond Award for employers that had given relentless commitment to all SL1M activities, Platinum Awards for employers with biggest investment and dedication to SL1M activities, and the Best Employer based on trainees’ feedback, comprehensive training structure, optimum work exposure and direct participation of the chief executive officer on executions of the programme.
The Best Employer was UEM Group Bhd, while the Diamond Award main winner was Maybank, and the main Platinum Award went to Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
Najib also presented the lucky draw prize of a Perodua Myvi 1.3, which was drawn by Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Aminar Rashid Salleh.
Present at the launch were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Economic Planning Unit director-general Datuk Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem, Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Muttalib, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, SL1M secretariat head Norashikin Ismail and corporate leaders.
The launch was hosted by DJ AG and Nabil Ahmad.
During a press conference, Norashikin said the effective date for the new allowance will be discussed with industry players so that it will come into effect soon.
She said there were about 15,000 job interviews offered at the event.
UEM Group Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Izzaddin Idris expressed gratitude that UEM was chosen as the Best Employer.
“Since 2011, we have trained about 2,600 people. I attribute this to having a great team that is committed to training trainees and doing the programme in a proper and structured manner,” he said.
He said UEM was ready to give the RM2,000 allowance under the new announcement made by Najib as it was already paying trainees RM1,800.
“For me, our one-year training serves as an interview period. If they can perform and are outstanding, they have a better chance of getting full-time employment,” he said.
Khazanah strategic human capital management executive director Latifah Daud said from 2015 to last year, the company trained 9,380 graduates.
“We have a special programme to help those in the East Coast, as well as Sabah and Sarawak,” she said.
Last year, Khazanah spent RM80 million on SL1M.
Maybank group chief human capital officer Nora Abd Manaf said the company trained about 1,800 graduates and 30 per cent of them were absorbed for full-time employment in Maybank.
“I have found that our companies continues to soar in profits as we are helping SL1M. I believe that good deeds will also bring good sustenance.
“We also ensure that our training is relevant to current industry
demands, such as including digital awareness, human-focussed solutions and data analytics into the module,” she said.
The two-day programme, which was attended by about 55,000 people, also featured entertainment and motivation sessions with celebrities Faizal Tahir, Kumpulan Zero, Kumpulan Bocey, Wany Hasrita, Tajul, Haqiem Rusli, Hael Husaini, Aiman Tino, Sufian Suhaimi and Imam Muda Asyraf.
Students from Universiti Putra Malaysia helped at the event. There were also mascots Didi & Friends, an automotive showcase by Art of Speed and booths by entrepreneurs, including the Orang Asli.