• Today: October 29, 2026

Spotlight falls on employment, manpower development

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) held a dialogue session utilising a ‘Coffee Talk’ approach with Legislative Council (LegCo) members on Monday at the MoHA building in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The session was chaired by Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Manpower and Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, while the LegCo members delegation was led by Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin delivered opening remarks, followed by a response speech by Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman.

This year’s session adopted a ‘Coffee Talk’ format to encourage open and constructive discussions. Key issues raised included the need to address unemployment and manpower development through a more integrated and action-oriented approach supported by clear outcomes.

Particular emphasis was placed on the gap between the number of job seekers and the availability of quality employment opportunities, as well as the relatively low acceptance rate of job offers. This highlighted the need to examine factors such as salary levels, employee welfare, job suitability, location and transportation, working environments, and workforce readiness.

The discussions also underscored that employment issues cannot be addressed in isolation from the country’s economic performance and growth.

Efforts to create quality jobs must therefore be supported by a more conducive business and investment environment, policies that facilitate growth, increased foreign direct investment (FDI), and the development of new industries capable of generating future employment opportunities.

Among the proposals raised were strengthening upskilling and reskilling initiatives, providing short-term training aligned with industry needs, reviewing the ratio of local to foreign workers, enhancing the role of government-linked companies in providing quality employment, supporting home-based businesses, and introducing incentives for companies that employ local workers.

The session also highlighted the importance of gaining a deeper understanding of the reasons local employees leave their jobs, improving the employability of persons with disabilities and graduates, ensuring recruitment processes remain fair and transparent, and reviewing policies or requirements that are no longer relevant or have become overly burdensome.

For recipients of assistance who are capable of working, the discussions also highlighted the need to encourage participation in employment or other productive activities as part of their responsibilities as recipients. This approach should be coordinated with relevant agencies to ensure an integrated and coherent social protection policy framework. – James Kon

Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Manpower and Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman in a group photo with Legislative Council members and senior officials from the ministry. PHOTO: JAMES KON

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/JAMES KON

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