SERIAN: The Ministry of Human Resources hopes to engage 40,000 homemakers for the1Malaysia Support for Housewives Programme and 7,000 individuals for the ‘Azam Kerja’ Programme to help eradicate poverty in line with the country’s vision of achieving a high-income economy.

Its minister Datuk Richard Riot said 27,131 homemakers had joined the programme as of May this year. Through the programme, JobsMalaysia has managed to match them with a job.

“The 1Malaysia Support for Housewives Programme reaches out to housewives, single mothers, OKU (disabled) women and other needy women to help their families make extra income.

“We understand that it is challenging for housewives to work as they have to take care of children and domestic chores. Nevertheless, there are jobs suitable for housewives who have the time.

“Here we introduce the concept of home working whereby they can go into sewing, producing handicraft or food and herbal products. They can even run a childcare centre within their own community or an online business,” he said when opening the state-level ‘Pesta Birumuh 2013’ and 1Malaysia Support for Housewives and ‘Azam Kerja’ programmes at Dewan Masyarakat here yesterday.

Riot, also Serian MP, pointed out that ‘Azam Kerja’ focused on assisting bread winners with a low income.

He advised those who have joined the programme to involve their wives in the 1Malaysia Support for Housewives programme as a means of seeing a more decent household income.

“’Azam Kerja’ will benefit 5,000 participants in West Malaysia, and 1,000 each from Sabah and Sarawak. As of May, we have successfully registered 2,600 individuals for the programme,” Riot added.

Several booths were set up at the festival for members of the public to acquire information on all departments and agencies under the Ministry of Human Resources.

The services included registration at JobsMalaysia and registration for the 1Malaysia Support for Housewives programme.

At the opening, Riot also pledged government grants of RM5,000 for each of the 26 contingents participating in ‘Pesta Birumuh’, which was held in conjunction with Sarawak’s 50 years of independence in Malaysia.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) also handed out compensations to a couple of eligible workers, who injured themselves at work.

The two-day festival was jointly organised by Ministry of Human Resources, Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Ministry of Social Development and Serian District Office.

Among those present were Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong and Recoda chief executive officer Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot.

(Source: Borneo Post Online, 30 Jun 2013)