PUTRAJAYA: Financial, job and training assistance and incentives will continue to be offered so that no one is left behind as the country gradually recovers from the Covid-19 crisis, says the Prime Minister.

       Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) said these incentives will help boost opportunities and provide room for the people to fend for themselves and continue to be productive.

       “The Malaysian Family concept sums up the spirit of the nation as we continue to focus on the national development agenda and making sure our fellow Malaysians are taken care of.

       “It is my commitment that the country’s recovery from this pandemic will be all-encompassing and inclusive,” he said at the virtual closing ceremony of the International Public Employment Forum (IPEF) yesterday.

       His speech was read out by Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

       The Prime Minister added that to accelerate the transformation in the labour market, short- and long-term measures need to be put in place.

       He also said the expansion of an inclusive active labour market should include a reintegration strategy as it forms an important part of any initiative that seeks to protect social security.

       Ismail Sabri added it was crucial job search assistance, disability management, entrepreneurship programmes, and vocational education and training were expanded.

       “The involvement of every level of the community, including employers, workers and job seekers, graduates and youth, is needed to weather this unprecedented crisis,” he said.

       “Everyone must play their roles and carry out their responsibilities.”

       The Prime Minister said the government had announced various initiatives that support business continuity, employment retention, reskilling and upskilling programmes, and job creation and hiring incentives.

       All these, he added, was done through the Prihatin, Penjana, Pemerkasa and Pemulih stimulus packages.

       The Social Security Organisation (Socso) has played an active role in the implementation of government-led initiatives since the pandemic first hit the country.

       Meanwhile, Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the forum served as a platform to share ideas and solutions to issues besieging the labour market.

       “We hope that the experiences, knowledge, case studies and proposals are practical and beneficial.

       “It is our hope that IPEF 2001 has provided insights into the way forward, especially on matters related to employers and employees who are the backbone of every nation of the world,” he said.