Video: Outsourcing Deemed Excessive, Manpower Minister Says It Will Be Restricted

Minister of Manpower Yassierli has ensured the continuity of the National Internship Programme for 2026, with a quota of 150,000 participants scheduled to begin on 10 August 2026 for a duration of six months. The Ministry of Manpower is also encouraging the equitable distribution of this internship programme by urging businesses and industries in regional areas to participate in the national initiative.

Furthermore, the Ministry is pushing for increased labour competency to face digital economic disruption by collaborating with universities to develop digital-related disciplines. The Ministry is also encouraging the role of Vocational Training Centres (BLK) to enhance the skills of prospective workers, promoting digital competence for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era through reskilling and upskilling initiatives.

The Minister also addressed the issue of outsourcing labour, which is currently deemed to have gone too far, where several core types of work are outsourced with unclear contracts, resulting in wages below the mandatory minimum and a lack of career clarity. Consequently, the government, alongside employers and relevant trade unions, is working towards implementing restrictions.

The Ministry of Manpower continues to promote various efforts to build an adaptive employment ecosystem through strategies such as enhancing the skills and competence of prospective workers in collaboration with higher education institutions. Additionally, the Ministry is developing the SIAP KERJA platform, which connects job seekers with companies looking for employees.