KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today chaired the first meeting of the National Employment Council (NEC) held online.
The Prime Minister’s Office in a statement said the council members include Senior Minister (International Trade and Industry) Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, Senior Minister (Education) Radzi Jidin and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, as well as Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, who is the NEC's alternate chairman.
The statement said the council, which will meet regularly according to current needs, will also comprise private sector representatives and industry players, whose names will be announced later.
“Through the setting up of the NEC, the prime minister is confident that job-creation initiatives, which will kick off in 2021 and beyond, will be more organised and implemented in comprehensive, integrated and effective ways.
“These efforts will be guided by the National Job Creation Strategic Plan, which will be developed later, to take Malaysia to greater heights while ensuring the well-being of the people,” it said.
According to the statement, the NEC was set up to execute strategies to create and preserve jobs in line with the first objective of Budget 2021, namely, the “People’s Well-being”.
The NEC is also the highest governance council for the formulation of policies, implementation and monitoring of government strategies and initiatives, specifically to create more job opportunities and tackle unemployment issues.
“The setting up of the council is also in accordance with the government’s aspiration to ensure the recovery and stimulation of the economic sector in Malaysia can be implemented successfully with a comprehensive approach, based on data and in line with the current demands of the industries while taking into account the people’s well-being and the country’s economic resilience.
“The NEC plays an important role, not only in continuing the momentum of economic recovery and boosting the creation of jobs, but also in addressing other related issues, such as underemployment and equal opportunity for the vulnerable,” it said.
The NEC will also be supported by a special high-level task force to be chaired by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, it said. – Bernama, December 10, 2020
