JOHOR BARU: The two-day Skim Latihan 1Malaysia (SL1M) Career Interview Programme here next month is expected to draw up to 20,000 visitors. To be held from Oct 12-13, the programme at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre will offer 10,000 jobs and training opportunities from more than 100 companies.

The programme, described as the largest career fair in the southern region this year, will offer RM25 million worth of grants to workers and companies under various schemes. SL1M Human Capital Development Section head of secretariat, Norashikin Ismail said the large-scale event would benefit all Malaysians at all levels of their careers, and would particularly be of interest to those keen on working in Johor. The programme will will also provide an insight into the SL1M, which was initiated five years ago under the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department, and has helped 80,000 graduates find jobs and training opportunities.

Norashikin said each participating company will set up booths that will be used to conduct on-the-spot interviews, and companies are allowed to issue conditional offer letters to successful applicants at the fair. At the Johor programme, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda) will offer RM20 million in upskilling and re-certification grants under the Iskandar Malaysia Profesional Fund (IMProF) for those who are working or plan to work in Johor. Irda is also allocating another RM5 million to companies interested in taking part in its job-matching scheme under the Iskandar Malaysia Employment Grant (IMEG).

Through the grant, Irda pays half of a worker's salary for the first six months before the company decides to start paying the full salary. The event in Johor is organised with the help of the Johor government, Johor Corporation, Iskandar Regional Development Authority (Irda), Khazanah Nasional Bhd, Iskandar Investment Bhd, Permodalan Nasional Bhd, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Human Resources Ministry, Education Ministry, Higher Education Ministry, and Yayasan Pelajaran Johor.