Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani said the government must look into the need to increase direct cash assistance and target the workforce, reports The Malaysian Reserve. The call comes ahead of Malaysia’s Budget 2023. Ghani said the government must also look into assisting the elderly, school students, the disabled, indigenous people and single mothers. Ghani said the government needs to provide financial incentives such as the Wage Subsidy Programme or tax exemptions to employers, especially the small and medium enterprise (SME) sector to encourage them to implement the minimum wage policy when it is enforced in Jan 2023. Ghani also recommended that the government allocate a budget for ‘Green Job’ to tap the potential of green employment, and an additional budget to help provide access to housing, education, quality health care, transport and safety.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman called for the government to address the human capital issues as there is a perceived dearth of local talent with digital and innovative skills. “Skills mismatch has been a persistent issue in Malaysia where the expertise of jobseekers, particularly fresh graduates, do not match industry requirements. This situation has caused some employers to look for the right talents abroad and hiring expatriates for certain positions,” Husman added.