KUALA LUMPUR — Employers are now allowed to use part of the levy collection for the purpose of recruiting new graduates, said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
The move aims to provide space for for new graduates to gain work experience, thus making it easier for them to get subsequent jobs. It is also a measure to reduce youth and graduate unemployment, the minister added.
“One of the most common problems faced by the workers or potential job seekers is that they say, ‘I cannot get a job because I have no experience. But if you don’t give me a job, then I will never have experience’.
“So, we see the hiring of fresh graduates as a form of training,” he said in his speech at the Hari Raya Celebration Ceremony at Wisma Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad (HRD Corp) last night, Bernama reports.
Sim said the initiative would also provide incentives for companies to expand operations and provide more job opportunities.
The employer levy is a contribution by employers to HRD Corp to fund training and skills upgrading of a company’s workers.
It was recently reported that HRD Corp collected RM2.3 billion in the levy last year, marking an increase from RM2.1 billion in the previous year.
Also present at the event last night were Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad, HRD Corp Board of Directors Chairman Datuk Abu Huraira Abu Yazid and HRD Corp Chief Executive Officer Datuk Shahul Dawood.
The event was also attended by Yemen’s Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Adel Mohammad Ali BA Hamid, Turkiye Ambassador to Malaysia Emir Salim Yuksel, Senegal Ambassador to Malaysia Abdoulaye Barro, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia Dr Karomidin Gadoev and Founder and Advisor of Berjaya Corporation Berhad Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun. – April 11, 2025