ILO celebrates 21 months of empowering youth employability in Malaysia’s F&B industry

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Young Malaysians are now better placed to enjoy successful careers in the food service industry following the efforts of the ILO Young Futuremakers Malaysia project which has helped them seize training and employment opportunities in the sector.

From holding roadshows and knowledge-sharing sessions to offering skills training to young workers employed in food service companies and creating career progression maps, their efforts have been dedicated to empowering the next generation of talent in Malaysia’s workforce.

A closing ceremony for the project, which was supported by the Standard Chartered Foundation, took place on 24 April 2024 in Kuala Lumpur during which the project’s many achievements were celebrated.

Over the past 21 months, the initiatives have held a variety of activities such as roadshows and knowledge-sharing sessions aimed at youth across the nation, especially in the Klang Valley and Kedah. In all an estimated 8,000 young Malaysians took part. These have helped build awareness of job opportunities in the sector as well as the availability of Technical and Vocational Education and Training courses to provide the skills needed for a career in the sector.

Panudda Boonpala, Deputy Regional Director of the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific recognised the project as a symbol of the commitment between the ILO and Standard Chartered Foundation to provide education and employment opportunities for young people in Malaysia.

“Throughout this project, we have strengthened our collaboration with industry, universities and certified training providers to ensure that the skills they pass on meet the needs of ever-evolving job markets. We are grateful for the outstanding collaboration and commitment received from the government, the Malaysian Employers Federation and trade unions in this regard,” she said

Representing Standard Chartered, its Head of Brand and Sponsorship, Community Impact and Engagement, Mastura Adnan highlighted the importance of allocating resources towards programs and initiatives aimed at propelling youth forward.

“Whether through training in practical skills, enhancing employability, or fostering entrepreneurship, equipping today’s youth with the right skills and resources will enable them to effectively tackle various social challenges,” she said.

Vibrant Career Prospects

Speaking after the event, Yang Berhormat Tuan Adam Adli, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, highlighted the excellent career prospects offered by the food service sector.

“I must commend the remarkable efforts of the ILO Young Futuremakers programme. They have truly gone above and beyond in equipping our young individuals with the essential skills needed to excel in this industry,” he said.

Exceptional Career Progression Maps and Skills Training

As part of the initiative, ILO also partnered with Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and Standard Chartered Foundation to develop three maps highlighting career enhancement opportunities for those working in restaurants, bakeries and baristas.

The bilingual maps comprehensively detail the necessary qualifications, technical skills, and core competencies as well as the benefits and expected salary for each occupational level within the industries.

Sanjay Boss, CJ Academy’s manager, demonstrated to the audience how youth could benefit from the progression maps

Emphasising the importance of keeping pace with evolving employment landscapes, Dr. Mohd Zulfadli, Senior Lecturer, Department of Graduate Studies, UTHM highlighted that the career progression map will be updated from time to time.

“We have successfully conducted roadshows in four regional zones in Malaysia to disseminate the career progression maps to young students currently studying food services-related courses. It was a privilege to be involved in the roadshow and spread the word to the youths passionate about the food service sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sanjay Boss from CJ Academy explained how their academy was one of the training institutes in charge of implementing digital and interpersonal skills training as part of the initiative in Kedah and Penang.

“A combination of digital and interpersonal skills training is essential in this sector as it not only improves customer satisfaction and operational efficiency but also ensures that employees are equipped to navigate the dynamic challenges of the industry,” he said.

The efforts of the Young Futuremakers Malaysia Project to provide education and career enhancement opportunities to youth will be continued by a number of the partners involved in the initiative.

Mohd Zharif, the National Project Coordinator presented the findings and achievements of the project

“Over the lifespan of this initiative, we have worked closely with many local partners to strengthen their ability to carry on this important work once the project ends. I am confident they will do so and that the future of young Malaysians is in safe hands,” said Mohd Zharif, the National Project Coordinator of this project.