Pay TVET grads at least RM3,000, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR: TVET graduates should be paid at least RM3,000, double the country’s minimum wage of RM1,500, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

They deserve the hike in pay because they are highly skilled labour, said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Rural and Development Minister.

“By increasing their minimum pay, it would help the company to increase productivity. The companies can then deliver products or services of higher quality,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of Memoranda of Cooperation (MOC) between the government and 10 government-linked and private companies.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also National TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) Council chairman, however clarified that his suggestion of a higher minimum wage was not an official directive.Also at the ceremony was Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar who inked the MOCs on behalf of the government at the Industrial Training Institute here yesterday.

He said only 5% of youths aged between 15 and 24 were involved in TVET, which was relatively low compared to developed countries.“Even among Asean countries, Indonesia has recorded a rate of 12.8% and Brunei 7.5%,” he said.

The minister said the collaboration between the government, GLCs and private companies would increase the participation of youth in TVET.

The companies involved are from various sectors such as oil and gas, automotive, hospitality, construction, aerospace, software engineering development, industry 4.0 and industrialised building system.

The companies include Petronas, Gamuda Berhad, Sunway Services, Redbeat Academy (AirAsia) and Daikin Malaysia.

Ahmad Zahid said that through this collaboration, more highly-skilled talents could be created.

On a separate matter, the Umno president reiterated that he was committed to cooperating with the authorities following a report made by Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris.

Razali has filed a report alleging that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Ahmad Zahid were behind the charges against Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

“As a transparent individual, I’m ready to be investigated. The report is baseless,” said Ahmad Zahid.