The Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) is expanding the coverage of the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act 2001 (PSMB Act 2001), with effect from April 1 2017, by streamlining its eligibility criteria to Malaysian employers across all sub-sectors within the manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying sectors that employ a minimum of 10 local employees.
The amendment to the PSMB Act 2001 also includes the expansion and increase of coverage for ‘Category Options’ for employers across all sub-sectors under the manufacturing, services, mining and quarrying sectors with five (5) to nine (9) local employees, and the abolishment of the paid-up capital criterion for the manufacturing and mining and quarrying sectors.
This expansion is expected to increase the number of employees who are eligible for training under HRDF from the current 1.77 million to 2.8 million by 2020 – an increment of 58%.
In addition, this expansion is a step towards qualifying and quantifying training and development programmes that are not only able to improve core competencies of employees of HRDF-registered employers, but also would help towards enhancing their (employees’) overall business sense. No doubt it is a crucial step towards the overall development of Malaysia’s human capital; assisting in increasing the number of skilled local workers from the current 31% to 35% by 2020 (as outlined under the 11th Malaysia Plan 2016-2020).
Employers who are subject to the PSMB Act 2001 are required to register with HRDF within the grace period of six (6) months, effective April 1 till Sept 30 in such manner as stipulated under subsection 13(1) of the PSMB Act 2001. Employer must submit their respective Employer Registration Form (Form 1) and Employer Information Form (Form 1A) not later than 30 days from the mentioned date. These forms can be downloaded via HRDF’s official website www.hrdf.com.my > Services > Registration of Liable Employer > Amendment & Expansion of PSMB Act 2001.
Source: http://www.theborneopost.com/2017/03/21/hrdf-expands-coverage-to-train-more-employees/