Amid the rise of the unemployment rate in the country, Malaysians should change their mindset to accept whatever jobs that they can get, instead of ending up jobless, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan has advised.

"There needs to be a change in mindset so that the rakyat will accept whatever jobs (that are available). There are enough opportunities," the minister reportedly said in a live conversation with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, on Facebook today.

This includes working in 3D (dirty, dangerous and difficult) jobs, as long as one can put food on the table, The Star reported Saravanan as saying.

According to him, his ministry and the agencies under it, such as the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), and the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK) would organise training to reskill and upskill workers.

Saravanan also urged Malaysians to consider working overseas, such as in Japan, where the basic salary for a low-level job can be up to RM8,500.

Therefore, it was time for Malaysians to snap back to reality and embrace change for survival, he said.

"This is not the time to talk about plans and dreams. That has to be put aside," he was quoted saying.

Last week, the Statistics Department released data that showed that 610,500 Malaysians have been rendered jobless, as at the end of March this year.

The staggering rate, which was caused by the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforced to contain the spread of COVID-19, is the highest in the country since June 2010.

The pandemic and the resultant prolonged closure of businesses, has also caused half of the self-employed in the country, to lose their livelihoods.

Malaysia is currently put under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) until June 9, where almost all economic sectors are allowed to operate.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected 6,726 people in the country, and killed 109.

Globally, the virus has infected more than 4.2 million people, and over 287,000 people have died from it.


Source: The Star
Photo source: Astro Awani, godtv.com