KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 21): Human Resources Development Corp (HRD Corp) has achieved a new record-high levy collection in 2023, with RM2.2 billion collected, compared to its previous highest tally of RM1.81 billion recorded in 2022.

“In 2023, various successful achievements were recorded by the ministry through HRD Corp. These include the collection of levies exceeding RM2.2 billion and the approval of financial assistance totalling over RM1.78 billion,” said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

“At the same time, HRD Corp also approved more than 2.2 million training positions for the benefit of the country’s workforce,” said Sim, who was speaking at the Chinese New Year celebrations hosted by HRD Corp at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre on Wednesday.

In 2022, HRD Corp disbursed over RM728 million in training funds and supported 1.15 million training places.

HRD Corp collects levy from registered employers with 10 or more local staff, at the rate of 1% of the monthly wage of the staff they employ. In return, these employers get financial assistance from the HRD levy paid for the training and development of their local staff.

Sim said HRD Corp has a role to play in boosting the country’s economy by providing inclusive training opportunities for employees across the country, thus enhancing their productivity.

“We will go all out when it comes to skill training because skill training is the gap to productivity. We want our employees to pay levy with a smiling face because they know the levy paid to HRD Corp will earn them back through the productivity of their workers,” Sim said.

“We want to expand the coverage of the training to all layers of society, regardless of whether you are a big business, a big SME (small and medium-sized enterprise), or a micro SME. No one should be left behind.

“Geographically, we want HRD Corp to go all over the country, identify relevant target groups and provide training irrespective of their status, whether they pay levy or not,” he said.

Furthermore, the agency should harvest opportunities, especially in the semiconductor industry, the minister said.

“We not only have the ecosystem to train, but we also have the talents to be trained. I hope HRD Corp can be at the forefront to play the role to promote Malaysia’s skill training sector at the level of Ivy League in Malaysia,” Sim remarked.

The government, through the Human Resources Ministry, will work harder to attract more foreign and domestic investments, in order to create more high-quality job opportunities for Malaysians, he added.

The celebration was also attended by over 1,000 guests, including HRD Corp’s stakeholders, comprising Malaysian employers, industry associations, trainers, training providers and the media.