Great headstart: Ramanan encouraged firms to apply for LiKES as it would allow better training for interns. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: Small and medium enterprises (SME) will receive RM2,000 for each intern hired under the Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd’s (TalentCorp) SME Industrial Training Matching Grant (LiKES), says Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
He said companies would receive a one-off RM2,000 per intern employed starting from March 1 and will receive the funds within a two-week period.
This would allow training of up to 25,000 Malaysian interns, he said, adding that the programme involves a fund of RM30mil for three years.
“The LiKES approval process has been reduced to 14 working days, unlike the 90-day period previously,” he said of the programme which was first introduced in 2024.
Ramanan, who was at TalentCorp headquarters here yesterday for a corporate briefing, encouraged companies to apply for this grant as it would allow better training for interns.
It would ensure interns have meaningful workplace exposure and learning opportunities, and possibly be hired after the training, he said.
LiKES also serves as a fund to help businesses grow as form of resources besides giving remuneration for their interns.
When SME apply for this grant, they are required to have a structured internship programme and provide reports to TalentCorp as well understand how the fund has been utilised.
Also present with Ramanan yesterday were Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, TalentCorp chairman Wong Shu Qi and group chief executive officer Edward Ling.
On a separate note, Ramanan said the implementation of the Gig Workers Act, which was gazetted on Dec 31, is expected to be decided in the near future.
He explained that its implementation is still under discussion, including an additional allocation of RM100mil through the Skills Development Fund Corporation.
Ramanan also commented on the RM50mil allocation for the upgrading of Tamil national-type schools (SJKT), saying his ministry would announce open tenders in phases according to each school once the preliminary processes are completed.
“Six schools were announced earlier, with five listed under the Yayasan Didik Negara.
“To begin repair works, we need to wait for the BQ (bill of quantities), such as for SJKT Klebang, before proceeding with the open tender process,” he said this as his capacity as a minister responsible for Indian community affairs.
On Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced an increase in the annual allocation for Tamil schools nationwide from RM30mil to RM50mil, starting this year.
