Unemployment was a major problem faced by the ex-servicemen in Malaysia since the
early seventies. Recognising the needs of ex-servicemen, the government through the
organisation of the Veterans Affairs Division (VAD) introduced the resettlement
program for the ex-servicemen with the aim of assisting the veterans to find
employment. However despite the implementation of training programs, the rate of
unemployment among the ex-servicemen was relatively very high, whilst the extent of
the as well as the underlying factors remained unknown, with the resultant ambiguity
of the role of VAD.
This case study was designed to investigate issues related to the employment situation
of the ex-servicemen by surveying those in the capital territory of Kuala Lumpur and
the states of Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, who participated in resettlement
training and were discharged in 1993. In addition the states of Johor, Perak and Penang
were included for the survey on the non participants of resettlement training.
The study found that the rate of employment of the ex-servicemen in the states
surveyed was substantially lower than that of the national average. The study also
found that participation in the resettlement training organised by the VAD had
significant effect on increasing the rate of employment besides higher income, shorter
period of unemployment, better readjustment and higher satisfaction with civilian life.
Among the factors analysed, ability to speak English and the economic activity and the
stage of development of the states were found to have significance influence on the rate
of employment. Other factors found to be associated with the employment of the ex-servicemen
included age, education level, rank, urban or rural background, and
matching of training to application.
Based on the findings of this case study recommendations were made to improve the
selectivity of, and access to, resettlement training by all ex-servicemen. Other
recommendations included improving the standard of education and spoken English
before discharge, lowering age of discharge with pension, provision of information
related to employment and counselling service, setting up of data bank of ex-servicemen
and further research.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218600 |
| Date | January 1994 |
| Creators | Loh, S. H., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright S. H. Loh |
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