Malaysia, Hong Kong Explore Strategic Cooperation in Human Capital, Labour Policy

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), April 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia and Hong Kong are exploring strategic cooperation in labour policy and human capital development to support the growth of a high-value economy.

The Human Resources Ministry (KESUMA), in a statement Friday said the collaboration would focus on occupational safety and health (OSH), skills training, and workers’ welfare.

These areas were discussed during a recent courtesy call by Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun, on Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

During the meeting, Sim said both sides had opportunities to share experiences and address common challenges in workforce development, job safety, and skills training.

“Hong Kong is a developed city with best practices in sectors such as construction and manufacturing which we can learn from,” he said.

Sim also highlighted the urgent need for skilled workers, particularly technicians and engineers, to support Malaysia's transition to a high-value economy.

“This is a critical issue as the country moves towards a more value-driven economy. We want to ensure that our workforce is ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” he said.

Meanwhile, KESUMA said Sun informed that Hong Kong is actively implementing various initiatives to attract young talent, as part of efforts to address the challenges of an ageing population.

“We are also seeing strong demand for frontline workers and professionals in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and finance,” he said.

Sun also outlined Hong Kong’s initiatives to strengthen OSH and workforce upskilling, while expressing interest in enhancing cooperation with Malaysia in the area of human resources.

The Hong Kong delegation also reaffirmed plans to establish the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) in Kuala Lumpur this year to strengthen ties with ASEAN countries.

-- BERNAMA