Employment Support Guidelines Launched, Helping To Address Underemployment Issues For Neurodivergent Group

KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- The Neurodivergent Support Guidelines launched today are expected to act as a catalyst for skill-based career pathways, in addition to helping address the issue of underemployment in the learning-disabled persons with disability (PwD) community.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan said the guidelines introduced by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) are a strategic framework to strengthen comprehensive workforce participation.

"These guidelines are the first of its kind established in Malaysia and is set to become the national benchmark in developing policies and programmes that are more inclusive for persons with disabilities, especially the neurodivergent group," he said in a statement today.

He said that the disabled community is indeed active in seeking employment, with data from the MYFutureJobs portal showing that 5,482 neurodivergent jobseekers with disabilities have registered so far.

"However, we must accept that the main challenge does not lie in the individual's ability, but rather in the readiness of our labour market to provide appropriate support, including workplace adjustments, flexibility, and a more structured support system.

"The role of the government today goes beyond merely providing job opportunities, therefore we are actively building an inclusive and responsive employment ecosystem," he said.

Khairul Firdaus said that the neurodivergent community in Malaysia should not be viewed merely as a group with disabilities but rather recognised as national assets with unique potential in high-impact sectors.

He said that in Malaysia, there are approximately 333,474 individuals with learning disabilities, the majority of whom are on the neurodivergent spectrum.

Touching on the exchange of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between PERKESO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said the MoU reflects the global commitment of the MADANI Government towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the aspects of education, employment, economy and reduction of inequality, especially involving the neurodivergent group.

-- BERNAMA