JOHOR BARU: Malaysia is bracing for a potential rise in job losses as global economic uncertainties, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, begin to spill over into the domestic economy.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said more than 3,000 workers have been affected so far, although the full impact has yet to be determined, warning that the figure could increase if global conditions worsen.
“We expect that this global crisis will have implications for Malaysia and may result in job losses. At the moment, the number is slightly above 3,000, but it could rise,” he said this in a press conference after attending national level distributing of furniture to SJKT schools at SJKT Jalan Yahya Awal here on Tuesday (June 23).
Ramanan added that the sectors most affected were services, manufacturing and construction, but stressed that the government was actively managing the situation and monitoring developments closely.
To assist affected workers, he said the government had set aside RM100mil under a fund announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Ramanan added that his ministry was seeking for the allocation to be provided as grants rather than financing.
“The ministry is focusing on upskilling and reskilling programmes for workers who lose their jobs before matching them with suitable employment opportunities through the MyFutureJobs portal managed by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
“We do not want workers to be placed in jobs that are not suitable for their skills and experience. The aim is to ensure proper job matching so they can return to the workforce as quickly as possible,” he said.
