Flex Penang to increase employment of OKUs in Malaysia and establish a recruitment hub

Called the MYFutureJobs@Flex Satellite Hub, it will be a platform for job seekers around Penang to get information on the latest job opportunities.

Malaysia's Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and electronics manufacturing company Flex Penang have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the employment of the differently-abled employees (orang kurang upayas, or OKUs) in the country, as well as in the latter company.

The signing, which happened on 17 July 2022 (Sunday), was executed by Dr. Mohammed Azman, Chief Executive, SOCSO and Viswanathan Paramasivam, Vice President, Flex Penang. It was also witnessed by Minister of Human Resources M. Saravanan.

Released in a statement, the MoU will set the tone in catalysing recruitment efforts among the differently-abled. As well, it will enable the creation of a more inclusive economic development of Penang, and pave the way for the establishment of a MYFutureJobs@Flex Satellite Hub at Flex's Penang complex in Prai.

Beyond that, the MoU represents a strategic cooperation between the government body and the electronics manufacturing company, which include aspects of research and teaching, career marketability programmes, employment services through the MYFutureJobs National Employment Portal, Training of Trainers (ToT) sessions, and SOCSO's Return to Work (RTW) Programme.

With regard to the employment services, it was shared that the operation of the MYFutureJobs@Flex Satellite Hub will be managed "comprehensively and systematically" between SOCSO and Flex Penang. "The hub will also be a platform for job seekers around Penang to get information on the latest job opportunities, besides also serving as a centre for sharing and organising career programmes by MYFutureJobs," it was explained in a statement.

Minister Saravanan welcomed this bilateral collaboration as he expressed the full support of the Ministry of Human Resources for public-private cooperation as established between SOCSO and Flex Penang. He added that it is his desire to see" more employers in the country" emulate the proactive initiative to further boost the placement of local workers in private companies, especially from vulnerable groups such as the differently-abled.

Sharing his sentiments, Dr Azman said that the opening of the hub made Flex Penang the first company in Malaysia to have a MYFutureJobs Satellite Hub. He further revealed that SOCSO, through the MYFutureJobs Portal, has managed to employ an additional of 150 OKU employees in Flex Penang this year, and expects more OKU people to be employed with this company after the Hub starts operating.

VP Viswanathan chimed in: "Flex Penang always welcomes all individuals regardless of identity in their company, and is committed to continuing to create an inclusive work culture". Adhering to the principle of celebrating diversity in the workforce, he is confident that this move can increase organisational productivity as each individual is unique, and has different talents and skills.

According to data released, to date, Flex Penang has employed a total of 277 disabled people nationwide, thus making the company one of the highest employers employing disabled people in Malaysia.

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Image / Minister Saravanan's Facebook

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