GEORGE TOWN: The government has launched the Veteran MyWIRA initiative to uplift the socio-economic well-being and ensure a dignified retirement for armed forces veterans.
The Veteran MyWIRA initiative marks the first time that the Human Resources Ministry, through its agency, Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp), is collaborating with the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat), under the Defence Ministry.
The Veteran MyWIRA initiative will be piloted in partnership with Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Micron), a leader in Malaysia's semiconductor ecosystem and will leverage on the unique skill sets of the armed forces veterans to fill job vacancies in the market
It will focus on industry-driven skilling and employment within the private sector.
Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said in the pilot project, 25 quality jobs would be offered by Micron.
He said they would be offered a salary of between RM2,900 and RM4,200, depending on the type of jobs.
"This year alone, we will offer a total of 500 quality jobs. Discussions are being held with some of the companies to finalise the terms and conditions.
"Our hope is that in a year or two, we will be able to offer 5,000 quality jobs annually," he told newsmen at the launch of the Veteran MyWIRA initiative at the SPICE Convention Centre here today.
Present at the event was Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.
Elaborating, Sim said the Veteran MyWIRA initiative was consistent with the principles of decent work within the framework of the Madani economy.
"Additionally, it aligns with the three fundamental pillars established for my ministry, namely, strengthening the welfare of workers, improving skills and increasing workforce productivity.
"Our armed forces veterans possess valuable expertise with specific, immediately applicable skills required in sectors such as electrical and electronics and aeronautics.
"Their structured lifestyles in the military have instilled in them a high degree of discipline, professionalism, and commitment – qualities highly sought after by employers.
"Through the Veteran MyWIRA initiative, the veterans will get to upgrade their skills in line with job market demands and transition into the private sector.
"This initiative empowers them to make substantial contributions to the nation's economy, improve their employability and elevate their overall quality of life," he added.
At its core, Sim said, this approach embodied the principle of ensuring that "no one gets left behind."
Meanwhile, Adly said between 3,000 and 5,000 armed forces veterans nationwide were still jobless.
He said the majority of them were still young, aged between 32 and 40, and did not receive any pension.
A total of 24,000 veterans are under the watch of Perhebat, of which 19,000 were still in contact.
"The Veteran MyWIRA initiative can make a meaningful impact on the lives of retired servicemen and women, empowering them to navigate the challenges of retirement with dignity and resilience," he said.
According to administrative data from Perhebat, an estimated 6,000 members of the armed forces retire each year.
As of May last year, the Department of Veteran Affairs (JHEV) reported a total of 42,745 veterans who are 50 years old or younger.
