PUTRAJAYA, Aug 11 (Bernama) — Enhancement of management skills, niche technology and effective organisation, are the strategic tools identified to improve labour productivity, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said as labour productivity is expected to grow 3.7 per cent annually to RM92,300 by 2020, Malaysia also needs to improve and increase workers’ skills.

“The required advanced skills and technology is the best competitive edge for economies to move up the value chain and beyond the simple production processes and products,” he added.

Ahmad Husni told the media this after chairing the 2016 Budget Focus Group on “Improving Labour Productivity: Public and Private”, here today.

“Looking back at last year’s performance, national labour productivity growth, covering both the public and private sectors, was at 3.5 per cent to RM61,708 per employee from RM60,437 in 2013,” he said.

He said by sector, construction registered the strongest productivity performance with growth of 13.2 per cent, followed by mining (6.5 per cent), agriculture (3.9 per cent), manufacturing (3.8 per cent) and services (2.2 per cent).

“Productivity remains at the top of Malaysia’s economic agenda.

“Efforts towards unlocking its potential as a game changer in the 11th Malaysia Plan, such as an increase in productivity, will lead to benefits in terms of a higher standard of living and enhanced competitiveness,” Ahmad Husni said.