What employers should know about Malaysia's Hiring Incentive Programme (PenjanaKerjaya)

Malaysia's Hiring Incentive Programme (PenjanaKerjaya), which was announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as part of the Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) on 5 June, commences today (15 June).

Implemented by the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and with support from the Ministry of Human Resources, PenjanaKerjaya aims at promoting job creation and increasing employment prospect, Chief Executive Officer Dr Mohammed Azman bin Aziz Mohammed said in a statement on Sunday (14 June). 

As part of the programme, companies will be given financial incentives to provide employment to the unemployed and youth, and about 300,000 job seekers are expected to benefit. Additionally, the unemployed who wish to upskill can claim up to RM4,000 worth of training allowances by SOCSO, even though they do not currently contribute to the Employment Insurance Scheme.

The application guidelines, as well as terms and conditions of PenjanaKerjaya, have been issued to employers yesterday and are available on SOCSO corporate website.

Additionally, Dr Mohammed Azman outlined the following points for employers to note:

• Employers looking for candidates to fill vacancies in their companies may start registering their profile today (15 June) via this portal. Upon hiring the employees under this programme, employers are required to register them with SOCSO for their statutory SOCSO contribution obligations.
• If in need of assistance on registration of vacancies or recruitment services, employers may also tap on the services of SOCSO's Employer Coordinators who are specifically in charge to assist employers with their recruitment needs.
• From 1 July 2020 onwards, employers may select the name of the hired employees under this programme via this portal for approval. Approved hiring incentives will be disbursed in the subsequent month after SOCSO contributions are paid, together with the mobility allowances for eligible employees, which are paid by the employers.
• Employers are required to apply for each newly-hired employee only once, where the subsequent six months of payment will be done automatically.
• From 1 July 2020, employers may choose from the list of approved courses for their newly-hired employees, if required, for the purpose of reskilling and upskilling of the employees. The training under this programme is implemented in collaboration with the Human Resource Development Fund.

Apart from the above, SOCSO urged all unemployed individuals, including graduates and school leavers, to register their profile on SOSCO's MyFutureJobs portal. 

Moving forward, Dr Mohammaed Azman adds, SOCSO is exploring collaboration opportunities with various private employment services agencies, in efforts to increase employment prospects for jobseekers and the unemployed.

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