Give RM3,000 starting salary to TVET graduates, employers urged

KUALA LUMPUR: All employers should offer a starting salary of RM3,000 to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The National TVET Council chairman said the proposed starting salary was appropriate as TVET graduates are skilled workers who have undergone skill courses.

"Skilled workers will improve the productivity of the industry and this increased productivity will reduce the costs to produce the end products or services in the long run. So, this is reasonable because they are trained workers that meet the demands of the market," he said after witnessing the signing of the Memorandum of Cooperation for Transformation of TVET Programme between the government and government-linked companies and private companies at the Kuala Lumpur Industrial Training Institute here on Thursday (March 16).

Ahmad Zahid said the minimum wage of between RM1,500 and RM2,208 was insufficient for TVET graduates.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Minister of Rural and Regional Development, added that the government wants to see the optimal effectiveness of TVET programmes in producing more skilled workers, especially with the coordination among 12 relevant ministries.

He said the government had also decided that TVET students be given credit transfer flexibility to pursue a Bachelor, Masters or even doctorate degree.

At the same time, Ahmad Zahid said the government also targeted to reduce dependence on foreign skilled workers to 25% by 2030.

"Developed countries in the East do not need foreign workers, they use 100% local manpower. Malaysia needs to look in that direction,” he said.

He said the recruitment of foreign workers should be reduced and be limited to the 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) sector, while for other sectors, priority should be given to local workers. - Bernama