New scheme to reduce unemployment
By Azlan Othman

Awg Hj Razali giving the briefing on the job training scheme

Some of the job-seekers attending the briefing on Advance Training Scheme for Industrial Skills and Info-Communication Technology. Photos: Hj Mohd Said Arshad

The implementation of the latest scheme to reduce unemployment is indeed a challenging task.

The new scheme, "Advance Training Scheme for Industrial Skills and Info-Communication Technology" involves a series of consultations between government agencies and the private sector as well as the introduction of government-sponsored training to "wipe out" the excuse that the locals do not posses the right skills for the job.

"This effort poses a greater challenge as it involves consultations between Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE), Labour and Brunei Industrial Development Authority (BINA) with entrepreneurial companies," said Awg Hj Razali B. Hj Mohd Yusof, Deputy Director-General of JPKE in his welcoming speech at a briefing on the Advance Training scheme on Industrial Skills and Info-Communication Technology yesterday.

"The first consultation is to encourage the private sector to open as many job opportunities as possible to the locals. This is not an easy task as the private sector prefers foreign workers due to various reasons. This is the greatest challenge.

"The second round of consultation between the government agencies and the private sector focuses on salary scale and other appropriate benefits for every post. This involves 'bargaining process' between the two parties.

"Moreover, it's time consuming and sometimes we will come across embarrassing situations due to the conflict of interest, opinion and values."

Based on the consultation, a total of 559 job offers in various fields were offered by 54 companies and corporations. JPKE then announced the vacancies to job-seekers and requested them to register and fill in and submit an application form.

A total of 3,300 came to register, however only 1,700 job-seekers submitted the application forms. The next step, JPKE facilitates the interview of the applicants by the employers.

To ensure that this scheme is fruitful, the government finances the training scheme to enhance the skills of the selected applicants to meet the demands of the employers. Hence, the excuse that the locals do not possess the expertise will no longer arises. The trainees are given allowance during the training.

In addition, an employment contract is signed between the selected applicant and employer once the applicant concludes the training programme - a pre-requisite to ensure that the scheme is successful. The applicant will be employed not less than two years.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin