AT least 6,700 nursing graduates from private institutions of higher learning (IPTS) will be absorbed into the government service in stages by the year 2015.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the move was taken to overcome the problem of unemployment and dumping involving about 8,000 nursing graduates in the country.
As a result, the government had agreed to increase the number of nurses in government hospitals and clinics by giving an opportunity to graduates of private institutions in stages beginning this year, he said.
“At the ministry level, a memorandum on Short Service Nursing Scheme (SPSJ) had been prepared to tackle the issue of unemployment before it was discussed at the Cabinet Meeting on Sept 12.
“Subsequently, a Cabinet Committee Meeting on Establishments and Emoluments of Public Sector Workers on Oct 14 had agreed that the number of positions be increased in stages, that is, 1,681 positions annually beginning this year,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2013 Policy Stage for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat, here yesterday.
Liow said the interview for recruitment of nurses would be carried out from Nov 10 to 12.
In addition, he said, the government would study ways of absorbing the unemployed graduates in the 1Malaysia Training Scheme so that they could be given training to refresh their skills. — Bernama