Mixed reaction from parents to SPN21 briefing by Ministry
Trying to understand: Parents attending during the SPN21 talk by the Ministry of Education held at the Sekolah Menengah Puteri Hjh Masna, Lambak Kanan. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
HANA ROSLAN
BRUNEI-MUARA
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Some embrace the system, others are disgruntled and feel left in the dark
WITH the arrival of the National Educational System for the 21st century (SPN21) just two months away, the briefing organised by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for parents who have children in the secondary level has struck a chord both ways.
Some parents embraced the system with open arms, but others were just left disgruntled and in the dark.
A 36-year old man working in the private sector, who opted for anonymity,stated that he was in the briefing for the whole morning and was still puzzled.
"This was supposed to be a briefing on the SPN21, but I just wasted my time and came empty-handed towards the end of the day because I feel I have yet to fully understand how the system works," he said.
He said everything was badly organised and that there should have been some booklets or clear guidelines that outline the plans for the new system so the parents will at least be able to comprehend what was actually being said.
He also stated that the change was so drastic and added how it was not thought out thoroughly .
"It is making me question whether the teachers themselves are ready for this change or not. It is easy to be excited about a new system when you are up there, but when you are down here with the teachers and parents, we are the ones who are responsible for our children," he said.
He stated that the challenges will be difficult but can be ironed out if only there was more awareness and information.
A mother of five children in her late thirties working in the government sector also complained of the lack of transparency that occurred during the briefing.
"I felt that all the information was so incomplete. I have some idea of the new syllabus but the way it was presented, the whole idea, was so obscure that i hope this is not the last time as I would like to know about the system in more depth and detail," she said.
She also said that she hoped that the authorities could look into giving out samples of the SPN21 test format soon so that she will be well-informed about how the assessment system works.
"How can I help steer my child towards the right preparations when even I don't have a clue as to what kind of approach will be taken in the new syllabus?," she said.
Julaimah Jumat a mother of six, has faith in the new system and the information that has been passed on, as she knows the new innovative system will be able to help her child who she admits, is a slow learner.
She stated that the new system will be able to assess students individually and this requires parents to converse with teachers constantly in hearing about their progress.
She said that this system will be able to manifest some slow learning students that parents might not be able to be comfortable admitting to it.
"This should not matter. We want what is best for a children. Maybe it's about time to make a change,"she said.
She added that the new system will be a pinnacle of change compared to the current one and requests for more teacher-parent interaction to monitor children's progress.
A uniformed personnel by the name of Hjh Zainah Hj Mahmud and also a mother to a secondary one student said that she also embraces the changes positively as it brings a better and more different level to the standards of education.
She stated that her child will be more motivated in her academic endeavours and will definitely be working with the teachers to ensure that her child will rise up and be ready for the challenges that are to come. The Brunei Times
Saturday, November 15, 2008
US enters realm of depression economics
US enters realm of depression economics
Going bust: A furniture store posts a "Going Out of Business" sign in a residential strip mall in Manassas, Virginia. US President-elect Barack Obama has called for urgent action to prop up the flagging US economy and stop the hemorrhage of jobs, arguing that there was not "a moment to lose". Picture: AFP
PAUL KRUGMAN
Saturday, November 15, 2008
THE economic news, in case you havent noticed, keeps getting worse. Bad as it is, however, I don't expect another Great Depression. In fact, we probably won't see the unemployment rate match its post-Depression peak of 10.7 per cent, reached in 1982 (although I wish I was sure about that).
We are already, however, well into the realm of what I call depression economics. By that I mean a state of affairs like that of the 1930s in which the usual tools of economic policy above all, the Federal Reserves ability to pump up the economy by cutting interest rates have lost all traction. When depression economics prevails, the usual rules of economic policy no longer apply: virtue becomes vice, caution is risky and prudence is folly.
To see what I'm talking about, consider the implications of the latest piece of terrible economic news: Thursday's report on new claims for unemployment insurance, which have now passed the half-million mark. Bad as this report was, viewed in isolation it might not seem catastrophic. After all, it was in the same ballpark as numbers reached during the 2001 recession and the 1990-1991 recession, both of which ended up being relatively mild by historical standards (although in each case it took a long time before the job market recovered).
But on both of these earlier occasions the standard policy response to a weak economy a cut in the federal funds rate, the interest rate most directly affected by Fed policy was still available. Today, it isn't: the effective federal funds rate (as opposed to the official target, which for technical reasons has become meaningless) has averaged less than 0.3 per cent in recent days. Basically, theres nothing left to cut.
And with no possibility of further interest rate cuts, there's nothing to stop the economy's downward momentum. Rising unemployment will lead to further cuts in consumer spending, which Best Buy warned this week has already suffered a seismic decline. Weak consumer spending will lead to cutbacks in business investment plans. And the weakening economy will lead to more job cuts, provoking a further cycle of contraction.
To pull us out of this downward spiral, the federal government will have to provide economic stimulus in the form of higher spending and greater aid to those in distress and the stimulus plan won't come soon enough or be strong enough unless politicians and economic officials are able to transcend several conventional prejudices.
One of these prejudices is the fear of red ink. In normal times, its good to worry about the budget deficit and fiscal responsibility is a virtue well need to relearn as soon as this crisis is past. When depression economics prevails, however, this virtue becomes a vice. FDR's premature attempt to balance the budget in 1937 almost destroyed the New Deal.
Another prejudice is the belief that policy should move cautiously. In normal times, this makes sense: you shouldn't make big changes in policy until its clear they're needed. Under current conditions, however, caution is risky, because big changes for the worse are already happening, and any delay in acting raises the chance of a deeper economic disaster. The policy response should be as well-crafted as possible, but time is of the essence.
Finally, in normal times modesty and prudence in policy goals are good things. Under current conditions, however, its much better to err on the side of doing too much than on the side of doing too little. The risk, if the stimulus plan turns out to be more than needed, is that the economy might overheat, leading to inflation but the Federal Reserve can always head off that threat by raising interest rates. On the other hand, if the stimulus plan is too small theres nothing the Fed can do to make up for the shortfall. So when depression economics prevails, prudence is folly.
What does all this say about economic policy in the near future? The Obama administration will almost certainly take office in the face of an economy looking even worse than it does now. Indeed, Goldman Sachs predicts that the unemployment rate, currently at 6.5 per cent, will reach 8.5 per cent by the end of next year.
All indications are that the new administration will offer a major stimulus package. My own back-of-the-envelope calculations say that the package should be huge, on the order of US$600 billion ($900 billion).
So the question becomes, will the Obama people dare to propose something on that scale?
Lets hope that the answer to that question is yes, that the new administration will indeed be that daring. For we're now in a situation where it would be very dangerous to give in to conventional notions of prudence.
NYT
Going bust: A furniture store posts a "Going Out of Business" sign in a residential strip mall in Manassas, Virginia. US President-elect Barack Obama has called for urgent action to prop up the flagging US economy and stop the hemorrhage of jobs, arguing that there was not "a moment to lose". Picture: AFP
PAUL KRUGMAN
Saturday, November 15, 2008
THE economic news, in case you havent noticed, keeps getting worse. Bad as it is, however, I don't expect another Great Depression. In fact, we probably won't see the unemployment rate match its post-Depression peak of 10.7 per cent, reached in 1982 (although I wish I was sure about that).
We are already, however, well into the realm of what I call depression economics. By that I mean a state of affairs like that of the 1930s in which the usual tools of economic policy above all, the Federal Reserves ability to pump up the economy by cutting interest rates have lost all traction. When depression economics prevails, the usual rules of economic policy no longer apply: virtue becomes vice, caution is risky and prudence is folly.
To see what I'm talking about, consider the implications of the latest piece of terrible economic news: Thursday's report on new claims for unemployment insurance, which have now passed the half-million mark. Bad as this report was, viewed in isolation it might not seem catastrophic. After all, it was in the same ballpark as numbers reached during the 2001 recession and the 1990-1991 recession, both of which ended up being relatively mild by historical standards (although in each case it took a long time before the job market recovered).
But on both of these earlier occasions the standard policy response to a weak economy a cut in the federal funds rate, the interest rate most directly affected by Fed policy was still available. Today, it isn't: the effective federal funds rate (as opposed to the official target, which for technical reasons has become meaningless) has averaged less than 0.3 per cent in recent days. Basically, theres nothing left to cut.
And with no possibility of further interest rate cuts, there's nothing to stop the economy's downward momentum. Rising unemployment will lead to further cuts in consumer spending, which Best Buy warned this week has already suffered a seismic decline. Weak consumer spending will lead to cutbacks in business investment plans. And the weakening economy will lead to more job cuts, provoking a further cycle of contraction.
To pull us out of this downward spiral, the federal government will have to provide economic stimulus in the form of higher spending and greater aid to those in distress and the stimulus plan won't come soon enough or be strong enough unless politicians and economic officials are able to transcend several conventional prejudices.
One of these prejudices is the fear of red ink. In normal times, its good to worry about the budget deficit and fiscal responsibility is a virtue well need to relearn as soon as this crisis is past. When depression economics prevails, however, this virtue becomes a vice. FDR's premature attempt to balance the budget in 1937 almost destroyed the New Deal.
Another prejudice is the belief that policy should move cautiously. In normal times, this makes sense: you shouldn't make big changes in policy until its clear they're needed. Under current conditions, however, caution is risky, because big changes for the worse are already happening, and any delay in acting raises the chance of a deeper economic disaster. The policy response should be as well-crafted as possible, but time is of the essence.
Finally, in normal times modesty and prudence in policy goals are good things. Under current conditions, however, its much better to err on the side of doing too much than on the side of doing too little. The risk, if the stimulus plan turns out to be more than needed, is that the economy might overheat, leading to inflation but the Federal Reserve can always head off that threat by raising interest rates. On the other hand, if the stimulus plan is too small theres nothing the Fed can do to make up for the shortfall. So when depression economics prevails, prudence is folly.
What does all this say about economic policy in the near future? The Obama administration will almost certainly take office in the face of an economy looking even worse than it does now. Indeed, Goldman Sachs predicts that the unemployment rate, currently at 6.5 per cent, will reach 8.5 per cent by the end of next year.
All indications are that the new administration will offer a major stimulus package. My own back-of-the-envelope calculations say that the package should be huge, on the order of US$600 billion ($900 billion).
So the question becomes, will the Obama people dare to propose something on that scale?
Lets hope that the answer to that question is yes, that the new administration will indeed be that daring. For we're now in a situation where it would be very dangerous to give in to conventional notions of prudence.
NYT
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
China posts record trade surplus despite global crisis
China posts record trade surplus despite global crisis
BEIJING
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
CHINA said yesterday its trade surplus hit a monthly all-time high of US$35.2 billion ($52.7 billion) in October, as exports remained strong despite the global economic turmoil.
The surplus, up 29.9 per cent from a year ago, reflected demand for China's exports outside the United States and Europe, but it was also the result of a marked slowdown in imports.
Experts said China's trade would soon show more clearly the impacts of the global economic woes, with export growth set to slow following reports already of many factories dependent on overseas sales facing deep difficulties.
"It is not very likely that such fast growth in the surplus will be sustained," said Qi Jingmei, a researcher with the State Information Centre, a Beijing-based government think tank.
Exports in October rose 19.2 per cent from a year ago to US$128.3 billion, compared with 21.5 per cent growth in September, according to the data from the Customs Administration. Qi highlighted the diverse markets for China's exports as one reason for the continued solid performance despite problems selling to the struggling developed markets.
"The demand from Africa, Latin America and Russia is still strong although exports to Europe weakened," Qi said.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency also gave prominence to the diversification cushion, reporting that exports to Latin America grew 52 per cent in the first nine months to US$111.5 billion.
A slowdown in import growth, rising 15.6 per cent in October from a year earlier to US$93.1 billion, was another important factor.
"Import growth fell by large margins, which made the trade surplus look high," said Li Huiyong, a Shanghai-based economist with Shenyin Wanguo Securities.
Since a large portion of China's imports are of input that get assembled and then re-exported, the trend could also signal further declines in exports in the months ahead, according to observers.
The more moderate rise in imports was also seen to reflect sharp declines in the price of oil and other commodities.
In the first 10 months, the trade surplus — long a source of friction with Europe and the United States — totalled US$216 billion, according to the customs authorities' data.
This marked a slight increase from US$212.4 billion in the same period last year, according to previously released Customs figures. The previous monthly record surplus was US$29.4 billion in September.
Qi of the State Information Centre said the latest figures offered some momentary relief for the Chinese government as it battles to limit the impacts of the global economic crisis at home. "A large trade surplus is what the government currently would like to see," she said.
"It can reduce some pressure on the government's policy making if exports rebound."
However the widening trade surplus could put pressure on China to raise the value of its currency, the yuan, which has stayed at roughly the same level against the dollar since April.
US president-elect Barack Obama said during his campaign that China's huge trade surplus with the US was related to its manipulation of its currency.AFP
BEIJING
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
CHINA said yesterday its trade surplus hit a monthly all-time high of US$35.2 billion ($52.7 billion) in October, as exports remained strong despite the global economic turmoil.
The surplus, up 29.9 per cent from a year ago, reflected demand for China's exports outside the United States and Europe, but it was also the result of a marked slowdown in imports.
Experts said China's trade would soon show more clearly the impacts of the global economic woes, with export growth set to slow following reports already of many factories dependent on overseas sales facing deep difficulties.
"It is not very likely that such fast growth in the surplus will be sustained," said Qi Jingmei, a researcher with the State Information Centre, a Beijing-based government think tank.
Exports in October rose 19.2 per cent from a year ago to US$128.3 billion, compared with 21.5 per cent growth in September, according to the data from the Customs Administration. Qi highlighted the diverse markets for China's exports as one reason for the continued solid performance despite problems selling to the struggling developed markets.
"The demand from Africa, Latin America and Russia is still strong although exports to Europe weakened," Qi said.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency also gave prominence to the diversification cushion, reporting that exports to Latin America grew 52 per cent in the first nine months to US$111.5 billion.
A slowdown in import growth, rising 15.6 per cent in October from a year earlier to US$93.1 billion, was another important factor.
"Import growth fell by large margins, which made the trade surplus look high," said Li Huiyong, a Shanghai-based economist with Shenyin Wanguo Securities.
Since a large portion of China's imports are of input that get assembled and then re-exported, the trend could also signal further declines in exports in the months ahead, according to observers.
The more moderate rise in imports was also seen to reflect sharp declines in the price of oil and other commodities.
In the first 10 months, the trade surplus — long a source of friction with Europe and the United States — totalled US$216 billion, according to the customs authorities' data.
This marked a slight increase from US$212.4 billion in the same period last year, according to previously released Customs figures. The previous monthly record surplus was US$29.4 billion in September.
Qi of the State Information Centre said the latest figures offered some momentary relief for the Chinese government as it battles to limit the impacts of the global economic crisis at home. "A large trade surplus is what the government currently would like to see," she said.
"It can reduce some pressure on the government's policy making if exports rebound."
However the widening trade surplus could put pressure on China to raise the value of its currency, the yuan, which has stayed at roughly the same level against the dollar since April.
US president-elect Barack Obama said during his campaign that China's huge trade surplus with the US was related to its manipulation of its currency.AFP
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
China-style stimulus not for all: Trichet
China-style stimulus not for all: Trichet
SINGAPORE
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
EUROPEAN Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet warned that many nations lacked the fiscal ammunition to take a cue from China and spend billions of dollars to ride out the global financial storm.
Beijing pitched in nearly US$600 billion to the global campaign to stave off the worst downturn in decades to the applause of markets and policymakers who had looked to China to do its bit to help the faltering global economy.
While there is mounting evidence that the United States, Japan and much of Europe are in recession, the world's fourth-largest economy is still growing, albeit at a slower pace than the heady double-digit growth of the past six years.
Trichet said that while some countries were well placed to pump-prime their economies, many lacked sufficient leeway in their budgets.
"They already have deficits now, which are very substantial, and for them the room for manoeuvering does not exist," he told Brazilian TV after the G20 meeting in Sao Paulo.
Reuters
SINGAPORE
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
EUROPEAN Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet warned that many nations lacked the fiscal ammunition to take a cue from China and spend billions of dollars to ride out the global financial storm.
Beijing pitched in nearly US$600 billion to the global campaign to stave off the worst downturn in decades to the applause of markets and policymakers who had looked to China to do its bit to help the faltering global economy.
While there is mounting evidence that the United States, Japan and much of Europe are in recession, the world's fourth-largest economy is still growing, albeit at a slower pace than the heady double-digit growth of the past six years.
Trichet said that while some countries were well placed to pump-prime their economies, many lacked sufficient leeway in their budgets.
"They already have deficits now, which are very substantial, and for them the room for manoeuvering does not exist," he told Brazilian TV after the G20 meeting in Sao Paulo.
Reuters
Global rescues, guarantees now at US$5t
Published on The Brunei Times (http://www.bt.com.bn/en)
Global rescues, guarantees now at US$5t
Catty: Demonstrators dressed as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) and a 'City fat cat' pose for pictures outside the Bank of England in London, yesterday. Picture: AFP
LONDON/PARIS
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
GOVERNMENTS worldwide have committed between US$4 trillion and US$5 trillion for bank bailouts, credit guarantees and fiscal spending to contain the damage from the worst financial turmoil in 80 years.
But new data showed the global economic crisis remains unabated with the French and Italian economies hurtling towards recession. The economic gloom also appears to be sweeping through Japan and several emerging nations.
Rating agency Fitch cut Romania's credit rating to "junk" status in one of four emerging market downgrades and said the global financial crisis had put the ratings of South Korea, South Africa, Russia and Mexico in jeopardy.
Foreign investors have dumped east European assets, fearing that many in the region may not be able to handle large foreign debt burdens.
Several nations, including Iceland, Hungary and Ukraine, have sought help from the International Monetary Fund. Fitch also cut the ratings of Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Hungary.
In Asia, Japanese manufacturers suffered their biggest quarterly slump in machinery orders in a decade, official data showed, boding ill for capital investment as the economy teeters on the brink of recession
Even fast-growing China has not proved immune.
Beijing approved a 4 trillion yuan (US$586 billion) government spending package to boost domestic demand and help the world's fourth-largest economy ride out the crisis.
China's stimulus comes on top of more than US$4 trillion in government pledges around the world for bank bailouts, credit guarantees and fiscal spending.
The United States, where a housing market collapse triggered the crisis, has earmarked US$700 billion for bank bailouts.
President-elect Barack Obama is expected to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more in a fiscal stimulus package, once he takes power in January.
Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers, said European banks had not resumed lending as much as leaders had hoped when they launched measures to shore up the financial system.
"They are reacting, yes, but they are not reacting with the drive that we were imagining when we had the support plans," said Juncker, who is also prime minister of Luxembourg.Reuters, AFP
Global rescues, guarantees now at US$5t
Catty: Demonstrators dressed as British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (R) and a 'City fat cat' pose for pictures outside the Bank of England in London, yesterday. Picture: AFP
LONDON/PARIS
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
GOVERNMENTS worldwide have committed between US$4 trillion and US$5 trillion for bank bailouts, credit guarantees and fiscal spending to contain the damage from the worst financial turmoil in 80 years.
But new data showed the global economic crisis remains unabated with the French and Italian economies hurtling towards recession. The economic gloom also appears to be sweeping through Japan and several emerging nations.
Rating agency Fitch cut Romania's credit rating to "junk" status in one of four emerging market downgrades and said the global financial crisis had put the ratings of South Korea, South Africa, Russia and Mexico in jeopardy.
Foreign investors have dumped east European assets, fearing that many in the region may not be able to handle large foreign debt burdens.
Several nations, including Iceland, Hungary and Ukraine, have sought help from the International Monetary Fund. Fitch also cut the ratings of Bulgaria, Kazakhstan and Hungary.
In Asia, Japanese manufacturers suffered their biggest quarterly slump in machinery orders in a decade, official data showed, boding ill for capital investment as the economy teeters on the brink of recession
Even fast-growing China has not proved immune.
Beijing approved a 4 trillion yuan (US$586 billion) government spending package to boost domestic demand and help the world's fourth-largest economy ride out the crisis.
China's stimulus comes on top of more than US$4 trillion in government pledges around the world for bank bailouts, credit guarantees and fiscal spending.
The United States, where a housing market collapse triggered the crisis, has earmarked US$700 billion for bank bailouts.
President-elect Barack Obama is expected to spend hundreds of billions of dollars more in a fiscal stimulus package, once he takes power in January.
Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup of euro zone finance ministers, said European banks had not resumed lending as much as leaders had hoped when they launched measures to shore up the financial system.
"They are reacting, yes, but they are not reacting with the drive that we were imagining when we had the support plans," said Juncker, who is also prime minister of Luxembourg.Reuters, AFP
Employment centre to facilitate jobseekers
Employment centre to facilitate jobseekers
Working visit: The Minister of Home Affairs (L) listens to a briefing by Anisa Hj Mohd Taib (R), the assistant Labour Commissioner.Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
FOLLOWING its recent transition from the Labour Department building to the existing government rest-house in the capital, the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan, or the Employment Centre for Locals was visited by the Minister of Home Affairs yesterday.
In an interview with the press, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof told media that the purpose of the visit was to discuss and understand the plans to increase the effectiveness of the centre's role in assisting and encouraging local job-seekers to work in the private sector.
The working visit also held the objective of familiarising the public with the centre's new location, which is adjacent to the Brunei Hotel. The centre, which is actually a division under the Labour Department, was moved to the capital so that job-seekers would find it more convenient and accessible upon registering themselves at the centre.
During the visit, the minister was shown around the various units found at the centre such as the Development and Training Unit and the Welfare for Locals Unit by the assistant commissioner for Labour, Anisa Hj Mohd Taib. Also present during the working visit was the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pg Abdul Haris Pg Hj Shahbudin as well as the current Acting Commissioner of Labour, Hjh Rosliah Hj Hasbollah and other officials from the ministry and the Labour Department.
Among the roles of the centre were to register local job-seekers and to seek help to set up interviews with employers who advertise their job offers at the centre.
The centre also often held talks with employers so that they would place priority in hiring local employees at their respective companies.
It also plays a pivotal role of conducting the various follow-up investigations at the work-places that the individuals have been employed by.
A special programme was introduced for the unemployed graduates and various school-leavers under the Human Resource Fund that was already being implemented on trial by the centre. It will carry out "Employment Orientation and Job Matching" and comprised of basic training, understanding of communication and work ethics as well as conducting work placement offers and over-seeing of the signing of the job contract.
At present, there were two groups in the programme, one of which had 44 participants and the other 34 participants.
And among the programme's objectives was to provide information on job opportunities in the private sector, train the job-seekers in "tailor-made" skills with the demands of the employer in mind and to change the local mind-set.
It also aimed to increase the private sector's role as the main provider of job opportunities and raise the involvement of the local people in economic activities, and thus reducing the unemployment.
Some 20 staff were employed at the centre, that moved to the new building in early August. (ODM1)The Brunei Times
Working visit: The Minister of Home Affairs (L) listens to a briefing by Anisa Hj Mohd Taib (R), the assistant Labour Commissioner.Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
FOLLOWING its recent transition from the Labour Department building to the existing government rest-house in the capital, the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan, or the Employment Centre for Locals was visited by the Minister of Home Affairs yesterday.
In an interview with the press, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof told media that the purpose of the visit was to discuss and understand the plans to increase the effectiveness of the centre's role in assisting and encouraging local job-seekers to work in the private sector.
The working visit also held the objective of familiarising the public with the centre's new location, which is adjacent to the Brunei Hotel. The centre, which is actually a division under the Labour Department, was moved to the capital so that job-seekers would find it more convenient and accessible upon registering themselves at the centre.
During the visit, the minister was shown around the various units found at the centre such as the Development and Training Unit and the Welfare for Locals Unit by the assistant commissioner for Labour, Anisa Hj Mohd Taib. Also present during the working visit was the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pg Abdul Haris Pg Hj Shahbudin as well as the current Acting Commissioner of Labour, Hjh Rosliah Hj Hasbollah and other officials from the ministry and the Labour Department.
Among the roles of the centre were to register local job-seekers and to seek help to set up interviews with employers who advertise their job offers at the centre.
The centre also often held talks with employers so that they would place priority in hiring local employees at their respective companies.
It also plays a pivotal role of conducting the various follow-up investigations at the work-places that the individuals have been employed by.
A special programme was introduced for the unemployed graduates and various school-leavers under the Human Resource Fund that was already being implemented on trial by the centre. It will carry out "Employment Orientation and Job Matching" and comprised of basic training, understanding of communication and work ethics as well as conducting work placement offers and over-seeing of the signing of the job contract.
At present, there were two groups in the programme, one of which had 44 participants and the other 34 participants.
And among the programme's objectives was to provide information on job opportunities in the private sector, train the job-seekers in "tailor-made" skills with the demands of the employer in mind and to change the local mind-set.
It also aimed to increase the private sector's role as the main provider of job opportunities and raise the involvement of the local people in economic activities, and thus reducing the unemployment.
Some 20 staff were employed at the centre, that moved to the new building in early August. (ODM1)The Brunei Times
Unemployment figures indicate slight drop
Unemployment figures indicate slight drop
Encouraging trend: Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof taking down notes during the meeting.Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
BRUNEI'S latest unemployment figures for locals official registered with the Labour Department stands close to 5,089 people who are currently out there in search of jobs. The statistics update was disclosed yesterday during the Minister of Home Affairs' working visit to the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan, the Employment Centre for Locals, which was followed by a meeting where the centre's progress was discussed.
Previously, the figure stood at 6,025 unemployed locals, but with the help of the department, 936 of these individuals have managed to find jobs in the private and public sectors. According to the statistics, 83 per cent of those unemployed were individuals who left school before or just slightly after successfully completing their Secondary Five education.
Home Affairs Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof stressed the importance of addressing the issue during the meeting with the officials from the Labour Department and the centre.
"(This is) a challenge we must face together as it is the role of the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan to ensure that these unemployed people are helped to find jobs in Brunei Darussalam," he said.
During the meeting, the minister was briefed on the functions of the centre's action plans and the progress of the special programme for unemployed graduates and school-leavers under the human resource fund which was organised by the Labour Department and supported by the Economic Planning and Development Department.
From the statistics, approximately 69 per cent of those in the private sector were foreign workers and only 31 per cent was local. Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said that the centre should work towards the target of increasing the private workforce to 50 per cent local and roughly 50 per cent foreign employees.
At present there was a total of 79,000 foreigners working in the private sector, not including those who were employed as domestic helpers, gardeners and drivers.
He said that it was necessary to focus and identify which jobs had the most potential in solving the problem of unemployment.
Last year, some 6,991 people registered with the Labour Department as considered unemployed individuals. (ODM1)
The Brunei Times
Encouraging trend: Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof taking down notes during the meeting.Picture: BT/Ubaidillah Masli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
BRUNEI'S latest unemployment figures for locals official registered with the Labour Department stands close to 5,089 people who are currently out there in search of jobs. The statistics update was disclosed yesterday during the Minister of Home Affairs' working visit to the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan, the Employment Centre for Locals, which was followed by a meeting where the centre's progress was discussed.
Previously, the figure stood at 6,025 unemployed locals, but with the help of the department, 936 of these individuals have managed to find jobs in the private and public sectors. According to the statistics, 83 per cent of those unemployed were individuals who left school before or just slightly after successfully completing their Secondary Five education.
Home Affairs Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof stressed the importance of addressing the issue during the meeting with the officials from the Labour Department and the centre.
"(This is) a challenge we must face together as it is the role of the Pusat Pekerjaan Tempatan to ensure that these unemployed people are helped to find jobs in Brunei Darussalam," he said.
During the meeting, the minister was briefed on the functions of the centre's action plans and the progress of the special programme for unemployed graduates and school-leavers under the human resource fund which was organised by the Labour Department and supported by the Economic Planning and Development Department.
From the statistics, approximately 69 per cent of those in the private sector were foreign workers and only 31 per cent was local. Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said that the centre should work towards the target of increasing the private workforce to 50 per cent local and roughly 50 per cent foreign employees.
At present there was a total of 79,000 foreigners working in the private sector, not including those who were employed as domestic helpers, gardeners and drivers.
He said that it was necessary to focus and identify which jobs had the most potential in solving the problem of unemployment.
Last year, some 6,991 people registered with the Labour Department as considered unemployed individuals. (ODM1)
The Brunei Times
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