Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad has launched the Industrial Training Matching Grant Initiative for Small & Medium Enterprises allocating RM30 million to support internship placement in SMEs and start-ups.
This initiative is part of the overarching ecosystem of the KESUMA Practical Training Incentive (ILHAM) which includes 4 main components; Structured Industry Training Policy, LiKES Matching Grant, ITS HRD Corp Levy Programme, as well as support programmes such as MyNext by TalentCorp and others.
Steven Sim Chee Keong, Minister of Human Resources said “For the first time, the Government has introduced an internship matching grant to support our SMEs and start-ups. Now more employers can take part in a collective nation-building effort to nurture our young talents. LiKES, together with the existing National Structured Internship Programme (MySIP) will help to provide work readiness and welfare by offering allowances during the training period.”
“This will help level the internship playing field for SMEs who constitute 97% of total businesses in Malaysia, and contributed 48.2% to the country’s employment in 2022,” he said.
The LiKES matching grant covers internship periods of up to 6 months and is open for application by SMEs and start-ups registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM). Eligible applicants must offer internship placements lasting a minimum of 10 weeks and provide a stipulated minimum internship allowance.
For interns pursuing Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) Level 1 to Level 3, Diploma, Malaysian Skills Diploma (DKM), the minimum allowance required is RM500.00 a month, where TalentCorp will reimburse RM250.00 a month. For interns pursuing Malaysian Advanced Skills Diploma (DLKM), Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Professional Certificate, the minimum allowance required is RM600.00 a month, and TalentCorp will reimburse RM300.00 a month.
