The Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) Secretariat would like to thank the writer, Road To Recovery, for the suggestion in the letter ‘Call for extension of i-Ready apprenticeship’ to extend the i-Ready apprenticeship tenure by a year to cushion the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the nation, as published in the Bulletin on January 15.
In this regard, we acknowledge the concern of the impact of the pandemic on the economy, which has led to a shortage of skilled manpower in the private sector. We also recognise that the i-Ready apprenticeship programme benefits both graduates and companies, especially during these trying times.
Since 2017, the objective of the programme has been to provide a platform for graduates holding qualifications from HND and TVET to undergraduate degree and above, to gain work experience and on-the-job skills to make them more “industry ready”. This is to help increase graduates’ marketability and competitiveness in the job market, hence enhancing their likelihood of securing employment. As such, the apprentices are highly encouraged to make full use of the programme as a stepping stone to seeking and securing permanent employment.
We would also like to encourage jobseekers as well as apprentices to access the various career services where JobCentre Brunei can support and provide help.
We would also like to assure the public that the MPEC, through JobCentre Brunei, is consistently stepping up efforts and enhancing career services to support jobseekers as well as employees and companies in the growing needs for manpower and job opportunities in the Sultanate.
Manpower Planning and
Employment Council Secretariat,
Prime Minister’s Office
