ON Wednesday, we mark Labour Day.
It is a venerable celebration with roots dating back to the late 19th century, when workers battled a host of rights violations, including lengthy workdays and weeks, poor conditions, and child labour.In a world where any progress is marked by one step forward and two (or three) steps back, it is nice to be able to say that workers the world over have made great strides forward.
In Malaysia, we have labour laws in place to protect workers, covering everything from working conditions and workplace safety to industrial arbitration and collective bargaining.
Nowadays, the battle is not for an eight-hour workday – something people died fighting for in some countries in the 19th and 20th centuries – but rather to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving labour market.
We have moved from the largely commodities-based economy during colonial times to a more industrial and electronics base – and no further.
If Malaysia wants to move beyond the middle-income trap, we need to offer something more than commodities and low wages. We need to offer the world an adaptable workforce.We have a unique opportunity to upskill and reskill workers as the country embraces artificial intelligence and the digitalisation of everything from industrial processes to logistics to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
The government knows this. Everyone from the Prime Minister to the Economy Minister have noted many times that a skilled workforce is essential for innovation and productivity.
“One of the biggest challenges in restructuring the economy is precisely the talents,” Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli has said more than once.
He has also noted the importance of education: “Every time we talk about programmes, initiatives and structural reforms that we try to implement, there are always sceptics who suggest to forget about it unless you fix the education system.”Education certainly remains the key to producing a future-ready workforce that can adapt to rapid changes – but that will take time, perhaps even a generation.
In the short term, if Malaysia is to advance economically, there must be a fierce focus on retraining here and now, and as required by the market’s changing needs.According to the Statistics Department, Malaysia’s workforce comprises 16.31 million persons as of June 2023.
They are not just workers, though – these millions of people are a large pool of potential just waiting to be reskilled, retrained and reenergised to push Malaysia ahead. The government just needs to find the right focus.
Happy Labour Day!
