GEORGE TOWN – Penang marked Labour Day today with a declaration that it is committed to the upskilling of workers in view of advancing technology and the latest global economic challenges.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in his message to workers in Penang, said the state is committed to generating new jobs and ones that pay well.
This would likely come from embracing the skills set in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Chow said Penang has launched a campaign for workers, which not only creates jobs but provides quality living, stressing that STEM skills are important for career advancement.
Called My Penang My Workplace, Chow said the programme provides various avenues for upskilling besides creating new jobs for all, especially the youth.
He acknowledged that the Covid-19 pandemic dealt a cruel blow to workers, as many of them lost their jobs or were forced to endure lower salaries.
However, Penang has emerged strong in the post-pandemic world, having attracted up to RM13.7 billion in investments from the manufacturing sector last year.
“The state will continue to engage young working adults through agencies such as Tech Dome Penang, Penang Science Cluster, Penang Digital Library and the Penang Skills Development Centre, which emphasise is on acquiring new skills for the digitalisation age.”
Having good jobs is in line with the Penang 2030 development goals, which is to be a smart state with a huge emphasis on greenery and the family institution, said Chow.
Based on a survey by the Social Security Organisation, in the fourth quarter of last year, Penang recorded an unemployment rate of 2.3%, which is the third lowest after Putrajaya (1.6%) and Perlis (2.2%) respectively.
Chow said that finding jobs is important, but equally crucial is having integrity to ensure workers provide the highest productivity output to ensure Penang’s economy is constantly competitive, not just within the country, but globally. – The Vibes, May 1, 2023
