Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn Small has expressed concern that Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are not making full use of the Human Resources Development Fund to upgrade their workers? skills. Less than half of the 2000-odd SMEs nationwide who contribute to the fund have used the facility so far.

Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Bhd (PSMB) which administers the fund will introduce an incentive to overcome this ? They will match ringgit for ringgit every RM1 invested by SMEs in employee re-training and upgrading.

Dr Fong says that the ministry?s target is to achieve a 75% utilisation of the fund. He is urging SMEs to use the incentive to train their workers to develop their human capital. Otherwise, he said, the money will go to the government?s coffers.