IPEF 2021 is aimed at analysing issues related to the labour market and public employment, said Dr Mohammed Azman.
KUALA LUMPUR: The upcoming International Public Employment Forum 2021 (IPEF 2021) will focus on various aspects related to employment, including preparing the workforce for the post-Covid-19 employment landscape, offering employment opportunities as well as looking into the future of the nation’s labour market.
According to event organiser Social Security Organisation’s (Socso) chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed, IPEF 2021 is an international programme aimed at analysing issues related to the labour market and public employment.
“Organising this forum in 2021 is meaningful because it is held in conjunction with Socso’s golden jubilee celebration and to commemorate Socso’s commitment and continuous efforts over the past 50 years in providing social security protection to Malaysians since 1971,” he said.
He added IPEF 2021 is being held for the first time since Malaysia – through the Socso Employment Insurance System Office – was selected in 2018 to become a member of the World Association of Public Employment Service, which comprises 80 public service agencies from around the world.
Themed ‘Reviving, Realigning and Rebuilding the Labour Market’, IPEF 2021 will see three different programmes being held simultaneously online. This will include Socso’s Regional Return to Work (RTW) Digimos Symposium 2021 on Sept 6 and 7, the International Public Employment Services Symposium on Sept 7 and 8, as well as the MYFutureJobs Career Expo, which will run from Sept 7 to 9.
More than 50 invited panellists from within and outside the country will participate in this international conference, to share their knowledge and experiences on current issues in the global labour market and the sustainability of business and human life, especially as the whole country continues to face the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Through this forum, Socso has high hopes to help Malaysians, especially employers, employees and job seekers gain knowledge, as well as equip themselves with the best practices needed to rebuild their careers and life after Covid-19,” he said.
Packed with knowledge
Through the RTW Digimos Symposium 2021, Socso aims to create a platform for dialogue and knowledge sharing from experts in the field of disability management, work intervention and workplace adaptation with the best methods and solutions for employee management post-Covid-19 disability.
The symposium, which is themed ‘Navigating Disability Management Through the New Normal: Return to Work Process Re-engineering’, will see experts in various fields across health, prevention and occupational compensation weighing in on the subject matter, utilising research and development findings to help those with disabilities reenter the workforce.
This includes Canada’s International Disability Management Standards Council executive director Wolfgang Zimmerman and United States’ University of Texas Rio Grande Valley rehabilitation expert Prof Dr Rene Gonzalez.
Explaining the rationale behind the symposium, Dr Mohammed Azman said, “Socso’s Return to Work Branch has a role in helping employees who are injured or suffering from illness, taking a comprehensive disability case management approach that is based on the concept of biopsychosocial – which includes biophysical, psychological and social factors – to help the employee to return to work as usual.”
As for the International Public Employment Services Symposium, among the topics that will be discussed include issues on industry development, the economic situation, the implementation of active labour market programmes for future market needs and employment opportunities, among others.
It will bring together those who play an important role in mobilising the labour market within or outside of the country, namely policymakers, industry players, businessmen who have in-depth information on current sectoral trends, as well as influential community leaders to share their knowledge and experience.
“Socso is committed to contributing towards positive development in employment opportunities and improving the functioning of the labour market. On this note, this forum also serves as one of Socso’s initiatives to support efforts to promote the exchange of information, initiatives and methods to address the problem of labour market instability,” he stressed.
It will also cover a variety of other interesting topics, such as a sharing session on the challenges of governing an organisation during the Covid-19 crisis from the perspective of a chief executive officer, as well as a panel session with national football legends and heroes including Datuk James Wong, Datuk Santokh Singh and Datuk Soh Chin Aun.
Offering job opportunities
For job seekers, the MYFutureJobs Career Expo will see more than 25,100 job opportunities offered by 127 employers nationwide on offer, covering a range of positions suitable for SPM graduate job seekers and professionals.
To help job seekers find employment during this challenging period, Socso has been working strategically with employers from across the country to provide and offer more than 25,100 job vacancies in various sectors of the economy through the MYFutureJobs Career Expo.“While having to be held entirely online, the Career Expo to some extent has helped in efforts to encourage employers to hire, even during pandemic periods. It is hoped that this effort will increase economic activity and improve the country’s recovery efforts, especially in terms of the labour market,” he added.
This latest edition, which complements the IPEF 2021, is a continuation of Socso’s ongoing initiatives to help increase job placement rates among local job seekers and help connect employers with their prospective employees for free through the job search platform.
Since the PenjanaKerjaya programme was introduced back in June 2020, a total of 295,448 individuals have found employment with Socso’s assistance, as of August 2021, which Dr Mohammed Azman said is proof that the programme has succeeded in helping to reduce the unemployment rate in Malaysia.
“My advice to job seekers, as well as those who are still unemployed, is to not to be picky and take the opportunity to gain work experience. In addition to job placement, Socso also offers the Upskilling and Reskilling Programme to develop human capital and reduce skill mismatch to meet market needs.
“For individuals who have lost their jobs and employees, as well as individuals who are actively seeking employment, seize this golden opportunity to get a job and rebuild your career,” he advised, adding that they can also learn about current industry-relevant skills at IPEF 2021.
As the leading provider of social security protection in Malaysia, Dr Mohammed Azman believes that Socso has a role to play in making social security more inclusive by ensuring that no individual is left behind in receiving its protection and services.
“The current pandemic has increased employee involvement in the informal sector and the gig economy. Thus, Socso has further expanded the scope of employment protection for workers from these sectors to ensure that they are also given systematic assistance and protection that formal sector workers have,” he explained.
While Socso previously only focused on protection for employers and employees in the formal sector, he pointed out that recent developments have required Socso to reevaluate its protection concept and service support for self-employed individuals, who assume the role of both employer and employee.“Socso will introduce a more comprehensive and inclusive approach, so that every individual who has the potential to contribute towards national productivity – regardless of type of employment, or demographics of age, ability and socioeconomic background – can be given full support,” he said.
To access the four-day IPEF 2021 for free, those interested can register at https://www.perkeso.gov.my/ipef or call 1-300-22-8000.
