KUCHING: Industries and companies should work closely with skill training providers to recruit manpower instead of resorting to recruiting foreign workers.
In saying this, Skills Development Department (JPK) Malaysia deputy director-general Dr Mohd Rashid Buyong Hamzah added there was actually enough manpower in the state to meet the industries’ and companies’ needs if they work closely with skills training providers and JPK.
“When you (industries and companies) can’t look for workers, don’t resort to taking in foreign workers because we have enough people in Sarawak. Do come to training institutes and JPK and we will make arrangement and supply the right skilled workers to suit your need and requirement,” he told reporters after attending the closing ceremony of Sarawak Technical Trainees Programme at Yahos Sdn Bhd, in MJC Batu Kawah New Township yesterday.
He also informed that JPK Sarawak should work closely with the state government to find out what the companies and investments coming in the state so that they would know what trainings to provide in order to supply relevant skilled workers according to the need of investors.
He said JPK could play a role in introducing the right manpower to the companies and industries who are investing in the state.
“We want JPK Sarawak to work closely with the state government to find out what are the investments that are coming in the state so we can be ready and know what trainings to provide to our people. Let our own people do our own jobs here and do not depend on foreign workers,” he pointed out.
According to him, there are 58 certified training centres in the state comprising 31 government certified centres and 27 private certified centres.
A total of 218 courses had been registered by these centres which consisted of various sectors which were relevant to the need of the industries in the state.
As for Nasional Dual Training System (SLDN) providers, there are 53 SLDN training centres and 86 SLDN companies which are active.
“SLDN is a training system based in industries whereby 70 to 80 per cent are practical trainings done in industries while 20 to 30 per cent are theories done in their training centres,” he added.
Earlier, JPK Sarawak director Zaid Mat San said the programme was one of the JPK Sarawak’s initiative in collaboration with Yahos Sdn Bhd to give exposure to trainees of Malaysia Skill Certificate (SKM) on the basic knowledge and skills before they step into the ‘working world’.
The programme focused on communication skills and ethics when attending job interviews.
Besides, they were also being exposed to effective communication skills training, grooming and self confidence training to compete in the challenging working world.