Opt for TVET, says Kula

KUALA LUMPUR: Students are encouraged to choose the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathway to prepare them for careers in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0).

Paradigm shifts in conventional fields such as accountancy are expected due to the impact of the IR 4.0, which is predicted to put many sedentary jobs at risk, said Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran (pic).

A recent research by the World Bank Group revealed concerns about certain popular courses, said Kulasegaran.

“It is said that 80% of an accountant’s job can be taken over by artificial intelligence (AI). This is very worrying and we need to remind our children that they should study courses that can get them jobs.

“These courses include skills training under TVET such as mechatronics, electronics, welding and robotics. These graduates have a very high capacity to get a job.

“At least 96% of graduates have jobs. In fact, more than one employer wants to take them in, ” he told reporters at the PLWS 2019 Awards Day Human Resources Minister’s Cup at a hotel here yesterday.

The TVET path is not unusual as in developed countries like Germany, about 40% of students will choose academia and 60% would go to TVET, he added.

Kulasegaran, an experienced lawyer, said that back in the 1980s when he started working, there was a sure job for law graduates.

“I can’t say the same thing now. With the IR 4.0, we need to understand that it will affect all of us, including journalists, ” he said.

He added that the government would be making announcements on several initiatives regarding TVET in the Budget 2020 presentation today.

Announcements on getting women to return to the workforce, youth employment as well as jobs for persons with disabilities can also be expected.

Meanwhile, the Productivity Linked Wage System (PLWS) is among the efforts to get Malaysians working abroad to return and contribute to the country, said Kulasegaran.

“We have about 130,000 expatriates in this country. Bringing back skilled Malaysians working overseas is a need because then we can be less dependent on foreign workers, ” he said.

As of September this year, 86,917 companies have implemented the PLWS compared to 76,023 in 2013, which meant an increase by 14.3%.

The PLWS establishes the link between wages and productivity, with the system ensuring that wage increases is proportionate with higher productivity, thus enhancing competitiveness at the workplace.