KUCHING: The state government’s digital initiative through the JobSarawak platform continues to strengthen Sarawak’s labour market ecosystem, recording 21,000 registered job seekers and more than 18,000 active job vacancies to date.

Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai said the achievement reflects the effectiveness of the technology-driven approach in accelerating job matching while expanding public access to quality employment opportunities.

According to him, the JobSarawak platform, officially launched by the Premier of Sarawak on 10 May in conjunction with the state-level Labour Day celebration, functions as an integrated talent hub connecting the local workforce with employers throughout Sarawak.

“Since January 2025, the platform has attracted thousands of job seekers and offered significant employment opportunities, thereby supporting the development of the state’s workforce,” he said.

He said this during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday.

He added that the implementation of JobSarawak is part of a comprehensive approach under the Foreign Workers Transformation Approach (FWTA), which focuses on modernising the labour system through digital integration and more efficient governance.

Meanwhile, he said the state government has also strengthened industry engagement through 16 Industry Update sessions since 2023 involving various key agencies such as the Sarawak Labour Department, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Sarawak Health Department and the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).

“The efforts have been further strengthened through the implementation of six outreach programmes in major divisions including Sibu, Miri and Bintulu to ensure industry players and workers, including those in remote areas, receive direct access to related services,” he said.

Commenting on FWTA services, he explained that the project is implemented using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, whereby development and operational costs are fully financed by the private sector without burdening government finances.

“The fees imposed are based on the ‘user-pay’ principle, meaning industries that benefit from the recruitment of foreign workers bear the cost of the ecosystem and monitoring, rather than the public in general,” he explained. -UKASnews

Prepared by: Eisner Nala
Photo: Hazrin Sunaini
Translator: Uilson Ng