Sign language trainers to be accredited, says Sim
Fostering inclusion: Sim meeting with attendees at his ministry's monthly assembly in Putrajaya. — ONG SOON HIN/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry will look into Training of Trainers (ToT) accreditation for sign language interpreters through the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp), says Steven Sim.
The Human Resources Minister said he had instructed HRD Corp to introduce an accreditation system to further empower persons with disabilities (PwDs).
'I met with representatives from the sign language interpreters association a few weeks ago, in which they had expressed their plight.
'From the working environment and protection, there is still a low level of awareness (about deaf people) in the workplace – this included a lack of opportunities to become an accredited sign-language trainer, ' he told reporters after his ministry's monthly assembly here yesterday.
Following the meeting, Sim said he received the suggestion to issue sign language interpreters with trainers accreditation, which he agreed to, adding that there was no such accreditation offered by the agency currently.
He said this accreditation would be a starting point for the ministry to introduce similar schemes for other categories of PwDs, such as the blind.
'When the ministry said that we want to advocate for 3Ks (Kebajikan, Kemahiran and Keberhasilan or welfare, skills and achievements) of the workforce, it includes everyone, regardless of their physical abilities.
'We want to make sure that all workers are taken care of,' he added.
Earlier, Sim had attended the soft-launching of the Labour Day Carnival organised by his ministry, where three sign language interpreters translated the national anthem as it was played.
They are Deaf Advocacy and Well-being National Organisation president and co-founder Sariah Ibrahim, National Organisation of Malaysian Sign Language Instructors president Ong Hwei Ling, and Interpreters and Translators Association for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Deaf Community secretary Calysta Tay Yilynn.
Sim said this was as part of an early exposure for his ministry to be more aware of the PwDs.
Elsewhere, he said about 10,000 job opportunities will be offered throughout the Labour Day Carnival this year, with the vacancies coming from government-linked companies and private companies.
'There will be various activities and programmes throughout the three-day event at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, including a career fair, exhibitions and Himpunan Hari Pekerja that will be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,' he said, adding that the government will be announcing several new policies and programmes during the carnival from April 28 to May 1.
There will be featured pocket talks, interactive booths by government agencies, skills demonstrations, and Labour Day Award 2025 to celebrate the Malaysian workforce.
The ministry will also be launching a digital initiative through the introduction of MYFutureJobs mobile apps, a strategic and progressive initiative in supporting an inclusive, responsive and sustainable workforce ecosystem.
Other benefits of attending include having discounted police traffic summons payments of up to 50%, along with other services by the Road Transport Department, with the organisers expecting to receive over 10,000 visitors over the four days.
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