Dewan Rakyat approves amendments to skills development laws, focusing on training quality, student welfare, and expanded funding for TVET programmes.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has passed two bills to amend the nation’s skills development legislation.
The National Skills Development (Amendment) Bill 2025 and the Skills Development Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 were approved today.
Human Resource Minister Steven Sim said the amendments to the National Skills Development Act 2006 aim to incentivise quality training providers and protect students.
“There are instances where students spend money to enrol in vocational courses, but because the training provider is substandard, they not only waste time but sometimes go into debt for studies that do not lead to jobs,” he said during the debate.
Sim stated the existing act lacks a clear mechanism to suspend or revoke the accreditation of substandard centres.
The ministry believes it is time to strengthen the regulatory framework through the proposed changes.
A new performance-based system will recognise outstanding centres while monitoring weaker ones.
The bill extends the accreditation period for training providers from three to six years.
It also introduces clearer procedures for suspension and revocation of accreditation.
Another goal is to streamline skills certification to develop a highly skilled workforce.
The Skills Development Fund (Amendment) Bill 2025 amends the corresponding 2004 act.
It expands the financing scope of the Skills Development Fund Corporation (PTPK).
Key changes include broadening skills training loans to other programmes recognised by the Department of Skills Development.
The amendments also seek to enhance governance through more transparent financial assistance processes.
The Dewan Rakyat will reconvene tomorrow. – Bernama
