Latest news with #Sim
The Star
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Grace period a boon for employers
On the ground: Sim (centre) and Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe (front row, in white) posing with other dignitaries and participants of the HRD Corp's National Training Week (NTW) 2025, themed Learning Without Borders. PETALING JAYA: The Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) Amnesty Month, which ended on Saturday, has successfully saved employers up to RM100mil in costs nationwide. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim said more than one million workers have been protected through the operation, which began in April. 'I call upon all employers to be more aware about making contributions for their employees. 'This is a social responsibility that cannot be ignored,' he said in a statement yesterday. Earlier this year, PERKESO had given employers a grace period from April 1 to 30 to register and begin voluntary contributions for their employees without facing legal action. An extension was given until May 31, whereby errant employers were exempted from compounds, legal action and late payment interest fees (FCLB). Additionally, Sim encouraged workers to download the PERKESO Prihatin application to check whether contributions have been made by employers to ensure that their rights are protected. On another matter, Sim said that 13 people were presented benefit payments totalling RM66,390. Of the recipients, five received benefits under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4), three under the Rate of Contribution Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (Act 789) and five others under the Rate of Contribution Employment Insurance System (Act 800). Meanwhile, a total of 800 individuals received sponsored social protection contributions under PERKESO's Lindung Kasih programme during the Kaamatan Festival in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. This included 150 housewives through the Housewives Social Security Scheme and 50 individuals under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme. Sim said the sponsorships was to ensure that more housewives received comprehensive social security protection. 'This shows the government's continued commitment in protecting housewives from domestic disasters and inefficiencies while managing the household,' he added.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Pulau Gaya residents receive lifelong learning
Sim (third right) presenting a RM10,000 contribution to the SK Pulau Gaya PIBG, while Phoong (fourth right) and Ashim (right) look on. KOTA KINABALU (June 1): The Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma) and the Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) have extended their human capital development initiatives directly to the residents of Pulau Gaya through the 'Sentuhan Kesuma Bersama HRD Corp di Bawah Bayu' community-focused programme. Officiated by Kesuma Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, the event reflects the ministry's strong commitment to ensuring that lifelong learning and training opportunities are accessible even to remote communities. In conjunction with HRD Corp's flagship annual event, the National Training Week (NTW) 2025, themed 'Learning Without Borders', this initiative in Pulau Gaya is a reflection of the main objective of ensuring equal access to quality training opportunities for all, regardless of location or background. The programme brought together over 450 residents from four local villages: Kampung Gaya, Kampung Lok Urai, Kampung Torong Logong and Kampung Kesuapan, who took part in a series of training sessions specifically designed for women, youth and students. These included workshops on flower arrangement entrepreneurship, digital marketing and drop shipping, as well as motivational sessions to inspire academic excellence. In his speech, Sim stressed that officers from each agency under Kesuma should always go down to the countryside including Pulau Gaya to provide the services required, including skills training. 'We want all citizens to be given skills so that they can generate higher income. When the citizens are more skilled, the country will also be more advanced. 'Next week, HRD Corp will launch the National Training Week 2025, and we will make sure we go back to Gaya Island and provide new skills to at least 5,000 residents of this island. 'For 2025, our target is to provide training to 60,000 participants from all over Sabah, compared to 15,000 last year,' he said. Meanwhile, State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe in his speech also stressed the need to bring more skills training to Sabah in order to open up more job opportunities. 'Such skills training can not only provide higher job opportunities and income, but it can also attract large-scale investment to Sabah, thus changing the fate of the people as a whole,' he said. During the same programme, HRD Corp also collaborated with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for the strategic initiative 'Sabah Human Capital Initiatives & Nurturing Excellence (SHiNE)', an innovative platform that will function as the first lifelong learning hub of its kind in Malaysia, focusing on research, skills training and real-world talent development solutions tailored to meet the needs of the local and future workforce. According to HRD Corp board of directors deputy chairman Ahsim Jamat, he is confident that the SHiNE initiative will become a national reference model for talent and human capital development, thereby positively impacting the economic growth and well-being of the people in Sabah and Malaysia. More meaningfully, Sunday's programme also included the Industry and Community Training Collaboration Centre, where local tourism sector employers received benefits from HRD Corp's Training Facilities and Modification Scheme (ALAT) with the support of training equipment worth RM36,000 to enhance local skills training capabilities. Reflecting Kesuma's focus on holistic well-being, Sim also presented a Corporate Social Responsibility contribution in the form of 700 safety jackets for daily boat passengers, food baskets for 300 families around Pulau Gaya as well as a cash donation of RM20,000 to the Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) of SMK Pulau Gaya and SK Pulau Gaya. The programme was also attended by Kuching Member of Parliament Dr Kelvin Yii; UMS registrar Luqman Ridha Anwar and Jesselton University College president Professor Dr Chin Yuk Fong.
Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Over 450 Pulau Gaya residents benefit from HRD Corp outreach
Published on: Sunday, June 01, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 01, 2025 Text Size: Sim and others at the event. KOTA KINABALU: The Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma) and Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) have extended skills training and aid to over 450 residents of Pulau Gaya through the 'Sentuhan Kesuma bersama HRD Corp di Bawah Bayu' community outreach programme. Held in conjunction with National Training Week 2025, the event featured hands-on workshops in digital marketing, drop shipping, and floral entrepreneurship for women, youth, and students from Kampung Gaya, Lok Urai, Torong Logong and Kesuapan. Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said the ministry aims to reach 60,000 Sabahans with skills training this year, adding that national progress depends on equipping the people with better skills. HRD Corp also launched a strategic partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) under the SHINE initiative to establish Malaysia's first lifelong learning hub focused on workforce development and research. The event also saw the launch of an Industrial and Community Training Centre and included RM36,000 in equipment support for local tourism training, alongside RM20,000 in PTA donations, food baskets, and 700 life jackets for islanders. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
a day ago
- Business
- The Star
HRD Corp to train 60,000 in Sabah as govt ramps up upskilling for state, says Steven
KOTA KINABALU: The government is ramping up upskilling Sabahans this year, says Steven Sim, starting with HRD Corp's aims to train 60,000 people this year. The Human Resources Minister said this would be a fourfold increase from 15,000 participants in 2024. Speaking at a ministry event with HRD Corp in Pulau Gaya near here, Sim stressed that upskilling Malaysians, especially those in remote areas, is vital for individual empowerment and national development. 'We want every citizen to be equipped with skills that can help them earn a better income. When our people are skilled, the nation progresses too,' he said during the National Training Week (NTW) 2025 event on Sunday (June 1). 'Next week, HRD Corp will launch National Training Week 2025, and we will return to Pulau Gaya to train at least 5,000 residents,' he said. Over 450 residents from Kampung Gaya, Kampung Lok Urai, Kampung Torong Logong, and Kampung Kesuapan participated in the event, attending skills workshops focused on floral entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and dropshipping, alongside motivational talks for students. Sabah Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, who also attended, said expanding access to training was key to unlocking employment opportunities and attracting major investments. 'Training like this does not just raise incomes, but also helps transform Sabah's economy and uplift communities,' he said. In line with long-term workforce development, HRD Corp also announced a strategic partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) to establish Sabah Human Capital Initiatives and Nurturing Excellence (SHINE), Malaysia's first lifelong learning hub dedicated to research, training, and talent development tailored for Sabah. Deputy HRD Corp chairman Ahsim Jamat expressed hope that the SHINE model will set the standard for human capital development nationwide. The programme also saw the launch of the Industrial and Community Training Collaboration Centre, which included a RM36,000 boost in training equipment support under HRD Corp's Training Equipment and Facility Enhancement Scheme (ALAT) for local tourism industry players. Sim also presented several corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions, including 700 life jackets for daily boat passengers, food baskets for 300 families, and a RM20,000 donation to the parent-teacher associations of SMK and SK Pulau Gaya. Also present were Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii, UMS registrar Luqman Ridha Anwar, and Jesselton University College president Professor Dr Chin Yuk Fong.
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Over 800 in Sabah, mainly housewives, to benefit from expanded Socso protection
Sim (fourth left) presenting an SKSPS contribution with Azirruan (second left) to a recipient, while Jannie (third left) looks on. KOTA KINABALU (June 1): More than 800 individuals in Sabah, particularly housewives, can now benefit from social security protection under the Housewives' Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma). Kesuma Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong announced the expanded sponsorship of social security contributions through the 'Socso Lindung Kasih' programme at a hotel here on Saturday, in conjunction with the Kaamatan celebration. Sim revealed that 150 housewives under SKSSR and 50 self-employed individuals under the Self-Employed Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) received contribution sponsorships amounting to RM21,500 during the event. In addition, he announced 600 more SKSSR contribution sponsorships to extend comprehensive social security coverage to more housewives in the state. 'This shows the government's continued commitment to protect housewives from domestic disasters and disabilities while managing the household,' Sim said. The initiative also received support from Kapayan assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, who contributed to the programme to ensure broader protection coverage. Sim explained that while SKSSR is tailored for housewives, the SKSPS scheme targets individuals in the informal sector such as micro-entrepreneurs, small traders, farmers, food delivery riders and e-hailing drivers. Contributions under SKSPS can be as low as RM5.80 per month after government subsidies. Sim (centre) in a group photo with recipients at the Socso Lindung Kasih programme. 'If you run your own business, you can also get protection. This scheme is not only for salaried workers, but also for small-time entrepreneurs, which are plentiful in Sabah,' he said. He added that Sabah has the potential to become a national model in expanding the social safety net to rural and indigenous women, supporting the country's goal of protecting 500,000 housewives nationwide. During the event, Sim also presented benefit payments totaling RM66,390 to 13 recipients, covering claims under Act 4 (five recipients), Act 789 (three recipients), and Act 800 (five recipients). He highlighted that many still do not realise housewives are eligible for Socso protection if injured while performing household duties. 'There is no punch-in, punch-out in the life of housewives. They cook, wash and care for their families every day without leave or salary, so they too are 'working' and deserve protection. 'With just RM10 a month or RM120 a year, a husband or family member can contribute on behalf of their wife or mother and ensure lifetime protection,' he said. To ensure information reaches all communities, including remote areas, SKSSR pamphlets have also been published in the Kadazan language, thanks to efforts spearheaded by Jannie. Sim (fourth left) presenting an SKSPS contribution with Azirruan (second left) to Ruzaidie. 'I myself am not fluent in Kadazan, but I know that for people in Sabah to better understand, the materials must be in their language. This initiative will improve awareness and participation among rural and indigenous women,' Sim added. Meanwhile, Sim reminded employers that Saturday marked the final day of Socso's 'whitening month,' a campaign that saved employers up to RM100 million while protecting over one million workers nationwide. 'The whitewashing period ends today, and I urge all employers to stay committed to making contributions for their workers. This is a social responsibility that cannot be ignored,' he stressed. He also encouraged employees to download the Socso Prihatin app to check whether their employers are making the required contributions, ensuring their rights are safeguarded. 'This programme is part of a corporate social responsibility initiative that reflects the government's concern for all layers of society in Sabah, and expands universal social security coverage,' he added. Also present was Socso Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations) Azirruan Arifin. KESUMA lead Ministry of Human Resources socso steven sim
