: Labour market reforms are crucial to address job mismatches which contribute to graduate underemployment, unemployment and slow wage growth as well as over-dependence on foreign labour, according to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Dr Mahathir said reforming the labour market was one of the four priority areas highlighted during the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan which was presented last year. Under the priority area of improving labour efficiency and productivity, he said, two strategies would be implemented, strengthening the rights of workers and increasing female labour force participation.
Under the third priority area of enhancing access to quality education and training, three strategies would be undertaken, namely to raise the quality of education, to prioritise quality over quantity for technical and vocational education and training , and to improve education for all, he said.