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Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Malaysia (RATIFICATION: 1974)

Malaysia (ratification: 1974)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Articles 1, 3 and 6 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee welcomes the information provided in the Government’s report on the application of the Convention. The Government reports that it provides a free public employment service through JobsMalaysia, an online system of the Ministry of Human Resources that aims to improve occupational mobilization and ensure the optimization of the workforce through systematic job-matching (Article 6). JobsMalaysia provides jobseekers with career counselling and information regarding job vacancies, as well as advertising vacancies notified by employers. It also holds regular job fairs and open interviews, as well as awareness-raising activities in collaboration with educational institutions and other government agencies, such as the Education Service Commission Malaysia and the Public Service Department, among others. The Government reports that, as of July 2019, there were 16 JobsMalaysia centres and 69 JobsMalaysia points of service have been established, with 146 staff throughout the country. During the period covered by the Government’s report, JobsMalaysia received 287,287 applications from jobseekers, notified 693,796 vacancies, and placed 49,789 persons in employment. The Committee notes that, in its supplementary report, the Government indicates that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Human Resources (MOHR) through the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) has introduced the website www.myfuturejobs.gov.my to allow unemployed persons to access the various job initiatives available. Other services include job placement, career counselling and Active Labour Market Programmes. In this regard, the Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), which provides guidelines for developing and implementing effective, consensus-based and inclusive responses to the profound socio-economic impacts of the pandemic. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed, up-to-date information regarding the nature, scope and impact of the activities conducted by JobsMalaysia, as well as on the manner in which the Government ensures the best possible organisation of the employment market. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on the various measures adopted to address and mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market. The Government is further requested to continue to provide updated statistical data on the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by the offices, disaggregated by age and sex.

Articles 4 and 5. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that it conducts monthly programmes with the active involvement of the Malaysia Employers Federation and the Malaysian Trades Union Congress, such as graduate employability programmes, outreach programmes and programmes concerning job opportunities for groups in vulnerable situations. It adds that this process enables these organizations to provide their comments and suggestions aimed at further improving the operation and development of JobsMalaysia. The Committee recalls that Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention require that suitable arrangements be made through advisory committees for the co-operation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy. The Committee requests the Government to communicate further information regarding the manner in which it ensures co-operation and consultation with representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations in the organisation and operation of the employment service as well as in the development of employment service policy. It further requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to establish advisory committees at the national, regional and local levels as envisaged in Article 4(2) of the Convention.

Articles 7 and 8. Employment measures targeted to the needs of particular categories of applicants for employment. The Committee notes that the programmes conducted during the reporting period include programmes for persons belonging to disadvantaged groups. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information, including statistical data, disaggregated by sex and age, on the nature and impact of programmes or other measures taken or envisaged to meet the employment needs of particular categories of jobseekers, including young persons and persons with disabilities, as well as other groups that may encounter difficulties in entering or remaining in the labour market, including but not limited to women, older persons and long-term unemployed persons.