MIRI: Youths and their parents should not think that blue collar workers, such as mechanics and plumbers, are not in demand.

In fact, such jobs pay well in advanced and developed countries, especially when workers are skillful and knowledgeable.

Assistant Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communication Lee Kim Shin said this at a joint Hari Raya gathering of National Youth Skill Training Institute (IKBN) and Miri District Saberkas on Thursday night.

Lee believed the nature and scope of blue collar jobs, which often involved working in soiled clothes and using physical energy, seemed less attractive to youths and their parents.

“But highly skilled and trained workers are sought in advanced and developed countries, especially in the era of globalisation.

“They need a lot of highly skilled and trained manpower to work in their industries,” he reiterated.

He called on youths to change their negative mindset regarding skills training and training institutions like IKBN, and youth organisations and movements such as Saberkas to have direct contact with skills training institutions, and help promote them among members and youths.

He noted that IKBN produced qualified and trained human capital and that competent and knowledgeable human capital was needed to compete with others.

“In the globalisation era, we not only compete among ourselves but with others. We face tough competition in the international arena,” said Lee who is also Saberkas chairman for Miri district.

“If we want to reach developed nation by 2020, we need to develop human capital that is not only skilled but knowledgeable in various fields.

“Only by having k-workers or knowledge workers like those in advanced country will we be able to compete with others,” he added.

In this context, Lee called on youths to have a thirst for knowledge and skills relevant to the future development of the nation and country.