The Ministry of Human Resources (KESUMA) is currently in the process of amending the National Skills Development Act 2006 (Act 652) to allow the enrollment of trainees and workers with Malaysian Skills Certificates (SKM) at Levels Six, Seven, and Eight.
Minister Steven Sim stated that, under the current legislation, only individuals with SKM qualifications up to Level Five are eligible for recognition.
“The proposed amendment is crucial in elevating the status of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and strengthening Malaysia’s skills-based industries,” he said during his address at the 2025 National Economic Forum (NEF) recently.
In September last year, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government’s in-principle agreement to recognize SKM Levels Six to Eight as equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.
As part of efforts to underscore TVET’s parity with mainstream higher education, Sim also revealed that he will personally undergo SKM training at the Industrial Training Institute (ILP) in Melaka.
-HR HUB
