Bandar Seri Begawan - The Zakat Recipients Empowerment Programme (PROPAZ) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs expanded their initiative in helping those who are less fortunate in providing a career opportunity for zakat recipients in the private sector.

This is a new scheme under PROPAZ which was introduced yesterday at a signing agreement of cooperation ceremony to give job placements for zakat recipients.

Present as the guest of honour was Dato Paduka Awang Sa Bali bin Abas, the Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The signing ceremony was between seven zakat recipients, involving seven private sectors, witnessed by Dato Paduka Awang Sa Bali bin Abas at the Teratai Hall of the Ministry of Religious Affairs building in Jalan Menteri Besar. The new programme is called the PROPAZ apprenticeship. The agreement is on a voluntary basis between the cooperation of private sectors and PROPAZ.

The private sectors involved in yesterday's event were Belait Shipping Co, Riza Groups, Aifa (B) Sdn Bhd, Cerah Sdn Bhd, Koperasi Pengupayaan Asnaf Zakat, Lydia Tution, and Assidiq Managements Sdn Bhd.

This scheme is supported by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council through the initial cost assistance in the form of training allowances to participants of PROPAZ apprenticeship through several phases.

With the involvement and contributions from the participating companies in training and giving discipline to the participants of the PROPAZ Apprenticeship Scheme, it is hoped that the participating companies would take the participants as permanent employees.

The objective of the programme is to provide skills in their training, according to what employers want their workers to fulfil.

This is also to increase the involvement of the recipients of. 'fakir miskin' in economical activities to reduce the unemployment rate.

It is also to provide placements to recipients for an on-the-job training in many fields, as well as to increase the role of the private sector (as a strategic partner) as the main contributor to establish employment opportunity for the zakat recipient group.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin