PETALING JAYA: Malaysian employers are urging businesses and workers to take advantage of free upskilling opportunities under the National Training Week (NTW), saying continuous learning is essential to remain competitive in an economy increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), automation and digitalisation.
The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said NTW, organised by the Human Resources Ministry, has become an important platform for promoting lifelong learning, workforce readiness and talent development.
MEF president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said continuous learning was no longer optional for businesses seeking to improve productivity, innovation and long-term competitiveness.
"Continuous learning and upskilling have become strategic imperatives for businesses seeking to enhance productivity, innovation, resilience and long-term competitiveness," he said in a statement on Monday (July 27).
He added that NTW provides Malaysians with free access to courses in key areas such as AI, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), technical and vocational education and training (TVET), digitalisation, sustainability and innovation.
"The rapid advancement of digitalisation, AI, automation and emerging technologies is transforming the world of work at an unprecedented pace.
"National Training Week provides an excellent platform for employees and employers alike to embrace lifelong learning and prepare for the jobs and industries of the future," he said.
Syed Hussain also praised Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan for leading the initiative and bringing together stakeholders from the public and private sectors.
"MEF fully supports NTW as a strategic national initiative that encourages a culture of continuous learning and skills development among Malaysians.
"We congratulate Datuk Seri R. Ramanan for successfully mobilising stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to make training more accessible and relevant to the needs of industry," he said.
He added that the success of NTW demonstrated the importance of collaboration between the government, employers, industry associations, educational institutions, training providers and workers in developing a skilled and future-ready workforce.
"Human capital remains Malaysia's most valuable asset. The development of a skilled, productive and agile workforce requires a whole-of-nation approach," he said.
MEF also encouraged employers across all sectors to continue investing in employee training and make full use of programmes offered through NTW and other human capital development initiatives to strengthen Malaysia's long-term economic competitiveness.
