(from left above) Dr Nur Aainaa, Prof Lee, Kang and Mohamad Helmy are among the distinguished speakers at the upcoming IPEF 2021.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 pandemic, which has accelerated digital adoption for businesses and consumers alike, heralds a paradigm shift in not only the labour market, but also at the workplace, which employers and employees need to learn to navigate.
The upcoming International Public Employment Forum (IPEF) is all set to analyse such future issues related to the labour market and public employment, alongside preparing the workforce for the post-Covid-19 employment landscape and offering employment opportunities.
IPEF 2021, themed ‘Reviving, Realigning and Rebuilding the Labour Market’, comprises three simultaneous programmes held virtually, namely Socso’s Regional Return to Work Digimos Symposium 2021 on Sept 6 and 7, the International Public Employment Services Symposium on Sept 7 and 8, as well as the MYFutureJobs Career Expo, which will run from Sept 7 to 9.
Among the diverse, well-respected experts set to share valuable insights in the fields of their expertise are Razak School of Government research head Dr Nur Aainaa Syafini Mohd Radzi, SME Association of Malaysia national president Datuk Michael Kang, Sunway Education Group chief executive officer Prof Elizabeth Lee and Sime Darby Plantation Bhd group managing director Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.
“Now is the most critical time for everyone to play a part in reviving, realigning, and rebuilding the labour market of Malaysia.
“The public from all levels and backgrounds should attend this forum to know the latest perspective on the labour market of Malaysia from various angles, as well as on how everyone could play their role better for the country to successfully combat the pandemic – its economic and social impact – and rise again, stronger,” said Dr Nur Aainaa Syafini.
Dr Nur Aainaa will be speaking at the International Public Employment Services Symposium on her paper entitled ‘Stepping Up as a Well-equipped Digital-First Leader in the Pandemic’. She will share her thoughts on Malaysia’s digital transformation in the public and private sector, which will help employers and employees understand the challenges arising from such progress and how they can mitigate them.
Her session will also offer better understanding of leadership skills and the competencies employees and employers need to develop that will help them survive the pandemic and support the country.
For Sunway Education Group chief executive officer Prof Elizabeth Lee, who will share on ‘Shining a Light for Personal and Professional Growth’ at the symposium, IPEF 2021 goes beyond helping young graduates and employees prepare for the post-pandemic workplace by broadening their outlook, thinking and prospects. She stressed that continuous learning was crucial for all in light of the challenges in the post-pandemic world.
“My purpose is to encourage all people to look at things from slightly different perspectives such as recognising their talents using Professor Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences theory, which I believe will build on each individual’s strength and produce better graduates and success in careers and at work. When people understand their talents or gifts, they can be better at what they do in life.
“Another point which I will be highlighting will be on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the need to redress our unsustainable practices to address planetary health. It is essential for our young people to know what they can do to mitigate some of the world issues we face today, after all, they and their children are the ones inheriting the earth,” she said.
Kang, on the other hand, said that IPEF 2021 is a timely endeavour that can help drive awareness on current and future challenges relating to employment and the labour market for employers and employees as the nation progresses along a journey of digital transformation.
His session ‘Resilience in the SME World’, will provide a current view of the labour market for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), particularly focusing on how they can leverage existing government aid and incentives to tackle challenges relating to employee retention and the post-Covid-19 workplace for business survival.
“I will focus on the current labour market, in terms of challenges faced by SMEs and sharing the measures they can take to retain their employees, which are the core of any business, in the rapidly changing workplace environment impacted by digital transformation,” he said.
As a panellist in the ‘Keeping Jobs and Businesses CEO Forum’ from the palm oil industry on the symposium’s first day, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd group managing director Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha believes that IPEF 2021 will help Malaysians explore today’s available opportunities.
Presenting a different viewpoint, he said that unlike many other companies that have been forced to lay off employees, Sime Darby Plantation is looking to hire with over 6,000 vacancies available, as well as continuing investment into innovation and technology to lead the industry towards better changes and make its jobs more attractive for local workers.
“We encourage Malaysians to seize these opportunities because they will allow our locals to stabilise their lives and livelihoods during these challenging times. In the forum, I will also be sharing how both the management as well as our employees had to adapt to the new norms in this era and more importantly the long-term changes that we believe the industry needs to focus on,” he said.
