Malaysia

HRD Corp to be central agency for human capital development: PM

Up to 220,000 M’sians expected to benefit from its new UpskillMalaysia platform next year

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 03 Dec 2021 11:21AM

HRD Corp to be central agency for human capital development: PM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (centre), flanked by HRD Corp chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Salleh (second from left), Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim (third from left), Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan (third from right), and HRD Corp chief executive Datuk Shahul Hameed Dawood (right). – HRD Corp pic, December 3, 2021

by A. Azim Idris

KUALA LUMPUR – The newly launched Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) is set to assume significant responsibility as the central agency for all human capital development programmes for Malaysians.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the agency, rebranded from the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), will feature a platform where Malaysians can join upskilling and reskilling programmes offered under the government.

Called UpskillMalaysia, it will in time host about 5,000 courses offered by multiple agencies.

Ismail Sabri said that HRD Corp will further expand the scope of HRDF, which has been at the forefront of developing Malaysia's high-skilled and knowledge-based workforce over the last three decades.

“Therefore, I am pleased to announce that all of Malaysia’s human capital and skills development programmes placed under the Human Resources Ministry will be carefully managed by HRD Corp,” he said.

“This will enable the government to embark on a more cohesive, structured, and efficient talent development strategy that can support the acceleration of Malaysia’s post-pandemic economic recovery.”

Ismail Sabri said this in his speech when officiating the unveiling of HRD Corp and the Upskill Malaysia platform. The event was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday.

Also present were Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad.

Playing host to them were HRD Corp chairman Datuk Seri Jamil Salleh and chief executive Datuk Shahul Hameed Dawood.

In the past, the government had worked to avoid duplication of training for upskilling and reskilling by assigning all such related programmes to the Human Resources Ministry.

With this in mind, HRD Corp – which falls under the auspices of the ministry – is tasked with administering the training programmes to prevent redundancy.

An estimated 220,000 participants are expected to take part in courses offered on Upskill Malaysia next year.

Saravanan said the agency’s success and longevity over the last 28 years is testament to its ability to adapt and evolve, in order to stay ahead of and support Malaysia’s economic and human capital development needs.

“This new responsibility comes at a timely moment in HRD Corp’s history as it has also expanded its levy programme to cover 18 sectors and 238 subsectors, up from 3 and 63 previously,” he said.

He added that this will enable HRD Corp to support up to 6.1 million employees in the next five years.

The addition of new industries to HRD Corp’s levy programme came into effect on March 1 following the Expansion of the PSMB Act 2001, the law that governs the organisation’s existence, growth and administration.

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says that the Human Resource Development Corporation will further expand the scope of the Human Resources Development Fund, which has been at the forefront of developing Malaysia's high-skilled and knowledge-based workforce over the last three decades. – HRD Corp pic, December 3, 2021
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says that the Human Resource Development Corporation will further expand the scope of the Human Resources Development Fund, which has been at the forefront of developing Malaysia's high-skilled and knowledge-based workforce over the last three decades. – HRD Corp pic, December 3, 2021

Ensuring all Malaysians are trained and employable

Meanwhile, Jamil said the rebranding exercise will expand HRD Corp’s role in generating innovation and driving national transformation.

“Indeed, the contributions of all parties towards improving the training sector and human capital skills development shall prove to be highly meaningful in bringing about change,” he said.

On Tuesday, The Vibes reported on the transformation of HRDF into HRD Corp, which is in line with the agency's expanded mandate to ensure all Malaysians are trained and employable.

Established in 1993, HRDF’s primary purpose was to collect levies from registered employers and disburse training grants for employee training and upskilling.

Over the last 18 months, the agency has expanded its role to support the training and development needs of Malaysians from all walks of life.

In the first year of operations, HRDF had collected RM55 million in levies from businesses in the manufacturing sector.

This year alone, the total levy collection has thus far exceeded RM673 million and is expected to reach RM680 million by the end of 2021. The funds are channelled towards the training and development needs of 65,400 registered employers across the country.

The levies also cover almost four million employees, marking an increase of over 96% from 33,000 registered employers previously at the end of 2020.

Diverse initiatives towards a high-income nation

Additionally, HRD Corp has introduced various strategic initiatives geared at providing job matching and placement opportunities, as well as income-generating programmes – such as SCOPE, e-LATiH, the HRD Corp Placement Centre, Penjana and Jana’Preneur – to a wider range of target audiences.

In June 2020, HRD Corp introduced the Penjana HRDF programme with funding of RM500 million. It has benefitted close to 100,000 participants to date.

The agency also launched the e-LATiH online learning platform which now boasts over 154,000 registered learners and saw close to 400,000 enrolments in all its courses.

It also started HPC, which offers close to 40,000 employment and placement opportunities with some of Malaysia’s leading employers.

With the rebranding, HRD Corp will also function as a corporate body that ensures the national agenda for human capital development remains on track.

Moreover, the launch yesterday highlighted HRD Corp’s role in supporting Malaysia’s vision of becoming a high-income nation based on the digital economy and development of Malaysians who are the country’s most valuable asset.

HRD Corp’s existence is in line with the government’s aspirations under the 12th Malaysia Plan, based on the Vision of Shared Prosperity 2030 which requires initiatives that create employment opportunities and skills training for all communities.

In this spirit, HRD Corp will take on greater responsibility in serving as the central agency for all human capital development programmes, not only for employees but also for all Malaysians. – The Vibes, December 3, 2021

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