KUALA LUMPUR: There is fresh hope for some 300,000 people without jobs in the country.

They will receive assistance from special community employment service centres to help the longtime unemployed.

To facilitate the process, the Congress of Union of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) wants the Human Resource Ministry to first conduct a thorough study before setting up such community employment service centres.

Last Friday, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam announced that the government will immediately set up 11 employment centres to help 300,000 jobless people in the country.

Cuepacs president Omar Osman told The Malay Mail that the government should study the situation carefully before setting up such centres.

"It is important to study who these 300,000 people are and why they are jobless to enable the centres to  function accordingly."

Omar added the government also needs to research the appropriate industries to cater for the unemployed.

"It is a good idea, but these centres would only be successful in helping the jobless if a comprehensive study is carried out."

It is learnt that the employment community centres would be set up in shopping complexes, bus stations and Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) buildings.

"The government must make sure that the centres are set up at the right locations as it is important to have easy access to such places."

Osman said it was not right for Subramaniam to compare Malaysia to United States, where the unemployment rate is five million to Malaysia's 300,000 jobless locals.

"I think its not right to compare our country with the US as our economy is different from theirs. But since he (the minister) has put it that way, then shouldn't we also compare the population of both countries?"

Osman further suggested that the high rate of unemployment can be brought down if the number of foreign workers being brought into the country is reduced.

"We must stop being dependent on foreign workers. Local companies need to offer a reasonable salary to attract locals to take up jobs.

"Once set up, the employment community centres would be handled by experienced councilors who will then guide and offer counseling sessions to job seekers."

The Human Resource Ministry had also said that the its main focus this year was to ensure that the unemployed find jobs according to their qualification and interest.