‘Never too old to learn’: Malaysian PMETs chart new career course as COVID-19 disrupts livelihoods
10 October, 2020
Life was turned ugly for Chris Hew when she was fired from her business development manager role in a travel agency earlier this year.
She have been in the travel industry for almost all her working career and worked in a variety of travel agencies.
When the Malaysian government first announced a movement control order (MCO) on Mar 18, no person would have expected that the restriction order and border lockdown would go longer than two weeks.
Hew’s company announced a momentary closure almost immediately. She was prepared for the worst, to be laid off from her job.
The travel industry was among the largest hit by COVID-19. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry estimated RM9 billion (US$2.17 billion) of losses faced by industry players, including hotels, transport, shopping, business events, as well as food and beverage.
Hew’s company announced a short-term closure almost immediately. She was prepared for the worst, to be let go from her job.
The travel industry was among the largest hit by COVID-19. The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry estimated RM9 billion (US$2.17 billion) of losses faced by industry players, including hotels, transport, shopping, business events, and food and beverage.
She said she was struck by the attitude of a mature coursemate.
“The oldest one locally that I know quite nicely is approximately 60 over (years old) and he's a legend. He (will) always tell us you are never too old to learn.
“For him to understand new things, it's hard. We are learning how exactly to do websites, how exactly to funnel pages, each one of these varieties of things... He told us not to quit. He said if he can do it, that can be done it,” Hew said.
To assist anyone who has lost their jobs, SOCSO was allocated RM1.5 billion (US$361 million) in the "Hiring and Training Assistance for Businesses" programme in collaboration with the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). It really is likely to benefit 300,000 people.
In a statement to CNA, SOCSO said that working out initiative may also have provisions for reskilling or upskilling training programmes provided for the newly appointed employees - all staff no matter age including persons with disabilities. Working out fee as high as RM4,000 for each and every eligible worker is also covered by the federal government.
On Sep 2, Malaysian Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz gave an update on the implementation of the Penjana Stimulus Package. He said that 20,574 persons have benefitted from the employment incentive and training assistance by the federal government.
Hew said she tried to use for government aid beneath the National Prihatin Aid, but her application was rejected because her previous wage didn't qualify her to get the aid.
She is still searching for employment amid her digital marketing training and hopes to use her new skills should there be opportunities on her behalf to come back to the travel industry.
“Digital marketing applies to all businesses. (Maybe) 1 day I can go back to the travel industry… I could apply the digital marketing part. There are possibilities everywhere,” Hew said.
FROM SELLING PROPERTY TO CHAR SIEW
Sharing the same situation as Hew, young Malaysian couple Justin Yong, 30 and Shervin Cheong, 36, have just welcomed their newborn last December.
The lockdown in Malaysia during the early phases of MCO gave them an chance to recalibrate their lives.
Yong was a genuine estate negotiator for days gone by eight years, while doubling up as a contractor to renovate homes for expatriates seeking homes in the blissful luxury properties of Mont Kiara, Kuala Lumpur.
When the MCO was enforced, that which was an initial fourteen days later became almost a year. Yong had no income to aid his young family and decided to start new.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
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