As global uncertainties continue to persist, Malaysia is bracing for a potential surge in unemployment. Human Resources Minister Dato’ Sri Ramanan claimed that more than 3,000 workers have been affected thus far this year, although the full impact has yet to be determined. He has warned that the figure could increase rapidly if global conditions worsen.
“We expect that this global crisis will have implications for Malaysia and may result in job losses. At the moment, the number is slightly above 3,000. Still, it could rise,” he said in a press conference after attending the national-level distribution of furniture to SJKT schools at SJKT Jalan Yahya on Tuesday.
The minister added that the sectors most affected were services, manufacturing, and construction, but emphasised that the government was actively managing the situation and closely monitoring developments.
As an effort to assist affected workers, he noted that the government had set aside RM100 mil under a fund announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Ramanan also added that his ministry was seeking for the allocation to be provided as grants rather than financing.
“The ministry is focusing on upskilling and reskilling programmes for workers who lose their jobs before matching them with suitable employment opportunities through the MyFutureJobs portal managed by the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO)” he said
“We do not want workers to be placed in jobs that are not suitable for their skills and experience. The aim is to ensure proper job matching so they can return to the workforce as quickly as possible,” he said.
Ramanan Ramakrishnan is a Malaysian politician of Indian descent. He has served as the Minister of Human Resources as part of the Anwar Ibrahim cabinet since December 2025. He became the first Malaysian of Tamil origin to hold a full ministerial portfolio after a hiatus of two years.
