Selangor Journal
State executive councillor for entrepreneur development Rodziah Ismail speaking to the media at De’ Palma Hotel, Shah Alam, on January 12, 2021. — Picture by REMY ARIFIN/SELANGORKINI

Govt should woo investors, prevent rising unemployment

By Norrasyidah Arshad

SHAH ALAM, Feb 15 — The Selangor government has urged Putrajaya to be prudent in its efforts of expanding the country’s economic prospects to keep the unemployment rate low.

State executive councillor of entrepreneur development Rodziah Ismail said the approach is needed in the face of the threats posed by the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to persuade and attract investors, while helping to build the economy.

“The labour market is deteriorating due to the public health and economic crisis. Many companies are freezing the intake of new employees due to the uncertainty of growth.

“If this is not managed well, it could lead to the continuous slowdown of the labour market’s recovery momentum,” said Rodziah on Facebook.

On February 8, chief statistician of the Statistics of Malaysia Department (DOSM) Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the unemployment rate had increased to 772,900 (4.8 per cent) in December last year.

He said employed persons grew 0.1 per cent, or 19,300 individuals, to 15.22 million after recording a slight contraction in the previous month.

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