PM Anwar Announces PACE Worth Over RM710 Million To Strengthen National Labour Market

KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced the Progressive Acceleration for Capability and Employment (PACE) Economic Resilience Package, valued at more than RM710 million, as part of efforts to strengthen human capital development and ensure the stability of the national labour market.

The Prime Minister said PACE forms part of the country’s economic resilience strategy.

“It comprises four main initiatives and will be implemented through the Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA),” he said in his speech at the national-level 2026 Workers’ Day celebration at Unifi Arena, Bukit Jalil here.

He also announced that the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 will be amended to expand protection under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) to Malaysians working abroad, beginning with cross-border workers between Malaysia and Singapore.

The initiative is expected to benefit more than 480,000 people who commute across the Johor Causeway for work.

“On average, we lose one life every week, or 54 deaths a year, among these (Malaysian) cross-border workers. Our children wake up as early as 4 am to cross into Singapore and only return home at night. So, how can we extend Perkeso protection to Malaysians overseas?

“That is why we will amend the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 to enable this protection to be expanded,” he said.

Anwar said PACE includes a RM580 million allocation by Perkeso to strengthen the social safety net through Employment Insurance System (EIS) benefits, aimed at assisting workers who have lost their jobs while enhancing their employability.

“In this era of AI, we cannot afford to fall behind in strengthening training and job placement. We must ensure that youths and vulnerable groups remain competitive and productive. For this purpose, the government, through HRD Corp, has allocated RM100 million under the HRD Yakin MADANI programme, which is also supported by MyFutureJobs to facilitate job placements.

“To diversify skills and strengthen social protection for gig workers, the government has channelled RM20 million to the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK), specifically for skills training for gig workers, particularly those in the e-hailing and p-hailing sectors,” he said.

He also announced a RM10 million fund from TalentCorp for the Industry Training Matching Grant aimed at supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and start-ups that offer industrial training placements.

-- BERNAMA