Malaysia has zero unemployment rate, says minister

Malaysia can be said to have “zero unemployment” with only 2.7 percent of the country’s labour force jobless in the third quarter of 2014, said Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem.
Malaysia can be said to have “zero unemployment” with only 2.7 percent of the country’s labour force jobless in the third quarter of 2014, said Malaysian Human Resources Minister Richard Riot Jaem.

According to the International Labour Organisation, a country with unemployment rate of below 4 percent is considered to have zero unemployment, he said.

Malaysia ’s unemployment rate has declined over the last five years from 3.7 percent in 2010 to 3.3 percent in 2011, 3.1 percent in 2012, 3 percent in 2013, and 2.7 percent in this year’s third quarter.

The official attributed such a decrease to various measures taken to help the jobless such as job carnivals and bazaars, and open interviews.

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Women, Family and Community Develop­ment Paduka Chew Mei Fun said women participation in the labour market increased from 46.8 percent in 2010 to 50.4 percent last year.

The figure is hoped to stand at 55 percent in 2015, she added.-VNA

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