Answer for Oral Question PL245

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya'akub

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya'akub asked the Yang Berhormat Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri to state whether the country’s employment structure today truly reflects the high-income economy targeted under Wawasan Brunei 2035, where almost one-third of the workforce remains in the basic occupations category. What is the Government’s target for reducing this percentage by 2035?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri

Basic occupations, based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO), are occupations involving simple and routine tasks such as cleaners, general assistants, security guards, kitchen assistants, drivers and basic machine operators. The 2025 Labour Force Survey recorded that 32,300 people (or 15 per cent) (comprising 10,000 local workers and 22,300 foreign workers) out of 220,800 people employed in the public and private sectors were in the basic occupations category, rather than almost one-third of the total workforce. The average proportion of basic occupations over the past four years has been around 16 per cent.

Although basic occupations continue to be needed to support the economic development agenda and service delivery, the goal of moving towards a high-income economy is not merely to eliminate this category of occupations. More importantly, it is to increase the proportion of skilled, productive and high-value-added occupations, while enhancing skill levels, the use of technology, income and career progression pathways across all occupational categories.

Instead, the Government’s direction is to gradually transform the employment structure through the creation of more quality jobs, workforce upskilling and the development of high-value-added sectors. Through this approach, the proportion of basic occupations is expected to decline relatively as more professional, technical, digital, green and skilled employment opportunities are created.

In line with Wawasan Brunei 2035, the Government continues to focus on providing decent employment, namely jobs that generate a fair income, ensure workplace safety, provide social protection and offer opportunities for capacity and skills development for workers. In addition to attracting more foreign direct investors who can generate higher-quality jobs, the Government has also introduced a minimum wage policy in the private sector in stages as a measure to prevent workers in certain sectors from being paid excessively low wages. Alhamdulillah, since its implementation, 99.7% (347 out of 348) of the companies listed under the relevant Order have confirmed that all their workers are paid at least the prescribed minimum wage rate of BND500 per month.

At the same time, the Government continues to strengthen its upskilling and reskilling programmes, apprenticeship programmes and the alignment of education and training with industry needs. This includes the SkillsPlus programme, SPIN in Accountancy, programmes under the Manpower Planning and Employment Council and tripartite collaboration through the Manpower Industry Steering Committee. These efforts aim to enhance the employability, productivity and career mobility of the local workforce.

Therefore, the measure of success by 2035 is not merely how many basic occupations can be reduced, but the extent to which more citizens secure quality employment, improve their skills and incomes, enjoy better career pathways and contribute to a more productive, dynamic and resilient economy.