The ILP Miri Advisory Committee and Community Panel led by Lee (seated at centre of table) at the committee meeting.
MIRI: Several former trainees of Industrial Training Institute (ILP) Miri are commanding five figure pay a few years after graduating, including one paid US$350 a day working in Brazil.
ILP Miri advisory committee chairman and Communications Assistant Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this showed ILP Miri was on the right track by using value-added steps to enhance the employability and marketability of trainees.
“We have one who is earning US$350 daily in Brazil, another in Holland commanding RM15,000 monthly and one electrician with a Malaysian contractor earns up to RM30,000 monthly, and all are in their 20’s who graduated only a few years back,” he said.
This proved that blue collar jobs in the industries command lucrative pay, and ILP Miri is proud that concerted efforts to add value to the formal skill training programme has yielded results.
Lee was referring to short courses and collaboration with Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Malaysian Manpower Department, Instep (Petronas) and others.
Value-added competency courses such as Health Safety Officer, Basic Offshore Safety and Emergency Training, 6G welding, scaffolding and other competencies raised trainee employability in the market.
“We have always emphasised that our trainees can start work the day after completing their training, and these value-added competencies comes in handy,” he said after chairing the first advisory meeting yesterday.
Lee said ILP Miri was looking at the possibility of pushing the envelope in recruitment as it had already reached its full capacity of 600 trainees at any one time.
The first batch this year of 204 trainees has pushed the figure to 655 trainees and among the possibilities considered is getting the Human Resource Ministry to expand infrastructure or allow trainees outside Miri to stay outside the institute.
Lee welcomed new ILP Miri director Puan Rosnah Muhamad Tahir who took over from Mohd Faizal Tokeran, transferred to Adtec Batu Pahat.
The new director has a wealth of experience under her belt, and is proud that ILP Miri produces trainees sought-after by industry players, with some commanding pay equivalent to that of senior government officers (Jusa A scale).
ILP Miri opened its door to the first batch of trainees in 2007 under the leadership of its first director Dr Ramli Rashidi who is now director of Adtec Bintulu.
It provides opportunities in artisan skill training up to SKM Level III certificate to continue at Adtec for SKM IV (diploma) and SKM V (higher diploma) level, which are the equivalent to diploma or degree level respectively on the tertiary academic scale.
Lee said over 2,580 trainees had passed through ILP Miri from the six courses offered: computer technology, technician, telecommunications, air-conditioning and refrigeration, industrial product design and gas pipe fitting.
Gas pipe fitter and electrical courses continue to be most popular among recruits in every intake.
Lee looked forward to seeing industry players turn up at Technical Job Fair ILP Miri to be held in April this year.
“You can come to interview your potential workers and provide data on your needs to be factored in drawing up courses relevant to the industries,” he said.