Zahid: TVET graduates deserve higher wages

KUALA LANGAT: Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates must be given premium wages and schools should be allowed to promote such courses, says Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The minimum wage is not sufficient for TVET graduates as they are skilled workers who are experts in their fields, he said.

They should be appreciated by employers, as foreign companies are willing to pay premium wages if their skills are relevant to their industry, said Ahmad Zahid.

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“The government has spent RM6.8bil this year alone, which has been channelled to 12 ministries that oversee the 1,345 TVET institutes nationwide,” he said in his welcome speech at the National TVET Day ceremony at the Kuala Langat Industrial Training Institute yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid said the streamlining of applications for TVET courses also showed the government’s commitment.

The UP-TVET system was introduced in January this year to synchronise applications to TVET institutes under the purview of the 12 ministries concerned.

“There are 250,000 places for TVET applicants. For those who may not have done well in their SPM exams, TVET is their option for a brighter future.

“The national employability average of TVET graduates is 94.5%. The employability of TVET graduates under Mara, and Rural and Regional Development Ministry institutes is 98%.

“The minimum wage is RM1,500, but TVET graduates who pass their SKM at Levels 1 and 2 should get at least RM2,500 as starting pay. Those with SKM Level 5 should get RM4,000,” he said.