PETALING JAYA: The six initiatives to be carried out by the Social Security Organisation (Socso) as announced in Budget 2024 reflect the determination of the government to spur the growth of new employment and enhance the social protection network, says its group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
These initiatives on career building, worker support, private sector targeted group integration and tax exemptions for the employment of female workers can boost the country’s job market, he said.
He added that the initiatives are also in line with the government’s goal to create 1.34 million job opportunities throughout the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) period.
The emphasis on the upskilling initiative can prepare current workers in both the formal and informal sectors to venture into new job opportunities, said Mohammed Azman.
“Such new job opportunities are expected to be available soon as there is a transition in the economy to digitalisation, renewable energy and green jobs.
“As such, the government’s incentive through the fiscal injection in Budget 2024 will encourage the vision towards increasing the number of highly skilled workers.
“This will cater to the demands of the Malaysian labour market,” he said in a statement.
On Friday, an allocation of RM200mil was announced for Socso in Budget 2024.
Mohammed Azman said that checks with the national job portal MYFutureJobs showed that there were 198,751 women seeking employment between January and Oct 6.
The findings also indicated that the female applicants were either unemployed or planning to move to new jobs, he added.
“Female participation in the job market can grow with the initiatives announced in Budget 2024.
“This is in line with the government’s aim to have 60% of women in the labour force,” he said.
