Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF) Part 4 of 4

eKTP 79

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1. What are the training schemes available in PSMB?

Employers are encouraged to utilise their levy payments via the following training schemes:

I. The SBL (Skim Bantuan Latihan) Scheme

The SBL scheme is the main funding scheme of PSMB. Prior approvals must be obtained from PSMB's Secretariat. Employers are allowed to identify their own training needs and to implement their training programmes to retrain and upgrade their employees' skills in line with their operational and business requirements. Under this scheme, employers are allowed to conduct training either on-the-job, off the job or a combination of both. Employers may also conduct training by engaging internal, external or overseas trainers. Effective 1 January 2011, trainers or training providers are required to register under Category C before they are allowed to conduct training under the SBL Scheme.


II. The SBL-KHAS Scheme

The SBL-Khas scheme is mainly to assist employers who are facing cash flow problems to continue with their retraining and skills upgrading of their workforce by using existing levy balances. Under this scheme, employers need not pay training fees to training provider. PSMB will directly debit from the levy accounts of employers to pay the training fees incurred to training providers with the authorisation of the employers concerned. Training programmes that are eligible to be offered under this scheme are public and in-house programmes conducted by training providers who are registered with PSMB. Training grant applications submitted by employers for programmes that are not registered or conducted by training providers not registered under this scheme will be rejected.


III. Purchase of Training Equipment and Setting up of Training Room Scheme

This scheme enables employers to obtain financial assistance at the rate of 100% to purchase basic training equipment and setting up of training rooms. The maximum amount that can be considered is not more than 20% of previous year's total levy payments. Prior approvals of PSMB must be obtained under this scheme. This scheme encourages employers to conduct more in-house training programmes, apart from enhancing the training culture amongst them.

Training aids approved under the scheme are as follows:

a. Television set;
b. VCR (Video Cassette Recorder);
c. VCD (Video Compact Disc) player or DVD (Digital Video Disc) player;
d. Overhead projector;
e. LCD, direct and multimedia projector;
f. Screen and white board;
g. Training video tape;
h. CD (Compact Disc) training video;
i. Chairs and tables for training room only;
j. Flip chart stand; and
k. Mannequin (for first aid and CPR training)

For the setting up of the training room scheme, financial assistance granted does not include the construction of buildings, training centres or the purchase or renting of training rooms.

Under the Employers Circular No. 3/2009, the purchase of computer notebook(s) has been approved as an allowable item under the Purchase of Training Equipment and Setting Up of Training Room Scheme with the terms and conditions as stated below: -

xii. Employers must have training room(s) and full-time internal trainer(s) or training personnel;

xiii. Computer notebooks must be used by internal trainer(s) or training personnel;
xiv. There must be LCD projector(s) on company premises;
xv. Computer notebooks are not allowed to be given for use by other personnel for non-training functions;
xvi. Computer notebooks when not being used must be placed in the training room(s) or Human Resources Department. Computer notebooks are allowed to be taken out of the company premises if there are training activities being carried out by the company;
xvii. The purchase of computer notebooks is allowed once in every two years; and
xviii. Employers who have lost their notebooks purchased under the HRDF are not allowed to apply again for replacement.


i. Computer-Based Training (CBT) Scheme
Employers who wish to purchase or develop computer-based training software including CD-ROM for the retraining and skills upgrading of their employees are eligible for financial assistance. For the purchase of software, a prior approval from PSMB is not required. However, prior approvals must be obtained if employers engaged consultants to develop specific training software. The rate of financial assistance will be based on the type of skills involved.

ii. Information Technology and Computer-Aided Training Scheme (Purchase of Personal Computer)
To encourage training in Information Technology by employers, financial assistance will be provided to employers to set up computer training units within their premises to avoid difficulties in releasing their workers to attend training outside their premises. Under the scheme, employers can purchase several units of personal computers. Employers are eligible to receive financial assistance up to a maximum amount of RM25,000.00 once in every three (3) years.

For employers to receive this financial assistance, they must seek prior approval before making the purchases. The purchase of computers is solely for training and not to be used for office administration. The purchase of personal computers includes multi-media kits such as CD-ROM drives, speakers and sound cards, Notebooks and laptops are not eligible for financial assistance under this scheme.

iii. Apprenticeship Scheme
The objective of this scheme is to increase the supply of skilled workers in industries identified by PSMB and employers. Apprentices are selected from PMR and SPM school leavers. Existing employees with no formal training can also be sponsored by employers, but subject to a ratio of one (1) existing employee to one (1) school leaver. Training conducted will involve a combination of theoretical training at the premises of training providers with an emphasis on practical training and structured on-the-job training at the premises of sponsoring employers. The curriculum for the apprenticeship scheme has been developed on a modular basis.

After the completion of training for each module at the premises of the training providers (for a period of three (3) months), apprentices would have to undergo another three (3) months on-the-job training at the premises of sponsoring employers. This is to reinforce the theoretical concepts learnt in the classrooms. The duration of training ranges from six (6) months to eighteen (18) months, depending on the type of skills and the needs of employers.

Tuition fees incurred will be fully paid by PSMB whilst employers will be responsible for paying the apprentices' monthly allowances of between RM300.00 to RM500.00. Sponsoring employers are also responsible to purchase insurance coverage for their apprentices for the duration of training. Sponsoring employers are eligible to obtain financial assistance at the rate of 100% of the "allowable costs", namely, apprentices' monthly allowances, insurance coverage and consumable training materials, if applicable. Upon successful completion of training, apprentices will be awarded the Malaysian Skills Certificates Level 1 and 2 by the National Vocational Training Council. For those who complete the full modules required under any of the scheme, they would be awarded the Apprentice Certificates, jointly issued by PSMB and the National Vocational Training Council.

iv. Joint Training Scheme
This scheme enables several employers, particularly those from the SMEs, to jointly appoint a training provider to conduct training for their employees. One of the employers will act as the 'organiser' who will determine the type of programme required, engages a suitable training provider and determines the venue for training. The 'organiser' will also be responsible for determining the cost per employee to enable participating employers to claim the "allowable costs" incurred upon the completion of training. The 'organiser' is eligible to claim the "allowable costs" at the rate of 100%, whilst participating employers can only claim at the normal rates of financial assistance approved by PSMB.

 
Darren Yap