Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is looking to expand its technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes for caregiving, says women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri.
Nancy said the country had long relied on foreign caregivers but now aimed to develop a more qualified local workforce.
“We have to work more with the TVET programme for caregiving,” she told a press conference at the Asean-ROK Conference on Care and Support for Older Persons.
“I think that is one way of raising awareness, especially for those who are looking for jobs, to let them know that this is something noble to do.”
Nancy said caregiving offered both purpose and strong income potential, noting that several institutions had already approached the ministry to source local talent.
She added that the ministry had begun upskilling its own staff and planned to extend training and certification programmes to the wider public.
“We want to give them upskilling courses, and better qualifications so that they will be able to value their own qualifications and bring them around to get better jobs,” she said.
Earlier in her opening remarks, Nancy acknowledged several challenges faced by Malaysia in preparing for an ageing population, particularly weaknesses in healthcare infrastructure.
“There is a critical shortage of trained professionals in geriatric care. From specialists to daily caregivers, access to quality care facilities is inconsistent, particularly between urban and rural areas,” she said.
Later during the press conference, she also raised concerns over the number of unregulated care centres, saying the lack of licensing made it difficult for the ministry to monitor and address potential abuse or neglect.
Separately, Nancy said the Senior Citizens Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament as early as next year.
She said the ministry was revisiting consultations with industry players and state governments, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure that the bill is inclusive and widely supported.
“The draft is already there. We hope to submit it to the Attorney-General’s Chambers by the end of this year,” she said.
Source: https://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/261472/govt-to-expand-tvet-programmes-for-caregiving/