KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today launched the government’s latest initiative - MyApprenticeship offering one million job opportunities for Malaysians.
He said the MyApprenticeship would embellish another one million job opportunities, on top of Barisan Nasional’s pledge to create three million jobs in its 14th general election manifesto unveiled on April 7.
MyApprenticeship is an initiative under the National Blue Ocean Strategy (NBOS), which focuses on placement fresh graduates and those in current employment in public and private apprenticeship to gain more skills and working experiences.
“Through MyApprenticeship, they (graduates and current workers) will have to opportunity to undergo practical training and increase their competitiveness, either in private or public sectors.
“Other than the three million job opportunities (pledged to be created under BN’s GE14 manifesto), the government aims to create another one million jobs.
“As an incentive, the government agrees to provide double tax deduction to all companies participating in MyApprenticeship,” Najib said in his speech to launch the initiative today, before of crowd at least 5,000 decision-makers and higher learning institute students.
Today’s launching was followed by the signing of 18 memorandums of understanding (MoU) between government agencies and private establishments, witnessed by Najib.
The MoUs are aimed to creating the first batch of 6,000 apprentices under MyApprenticeship.
Najib also said apprentices should be exposed to relevant training modules in lieu with the advent of the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).
“In the context of 4IR, apprentices should be exposed to, trained and educated with various skills and knowledge in order to turn them into competent, high-skilled workers.”
Also present were Human Resources Minister Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem and Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa.--Reports by SYED UMAR ARIFF, HAZWAN FAISAL MOHAMAD and SITI AZILA ALIAS.