PSMB is an abbreviation for Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad. The functions of PSMB as stipulated under the Pembangunan Sumber Manusia Berhad Act, 2001 are as follows:-

• To assess and determine the types and extent of employees' training and retraining in keeping pace with the human resources need of industries
• To promote and stimulate manpower training and
• To determine the terms and conditions under which any financial assistance or other benefits are to be given

To encourage employers in the private sector to retrain and upgrade the skills of their employees in line with their business’ needs and the industrialization strategy of the country.

Employers who register and pay the Human Resources Development Levy are eligible to obtain financial assistance for the retraining and skills upgrading of their employees.

All employers in the following sectors, with 10 or more employees and a paid-up capital of RM2.5 million are mandatory to register with PSMB:-

• Manufacturing companies
• Service sector industries - Hotel, Tour operators (in-bound tours only), Telecommunications, Computer, Shipping, Aviation and Advertising industries, Freight Forwarders, Private higher education, training and energy industries, Postal services including Courier Services, direct-selling, port services, engineering support and maintenance services, research and development, warehousing services, security services, private hospital services and hypermarket, supermarket and departmental store services ( However, hypermarkets, supermarkets and departmental stores are liable to register provided only if they have 50 or more employees).

Employers registered and/or incorporated in Malaysia who have registered with PSMB and paid the HRD levy within a month after registration are eligible to apply for training grants (financial assistance. Training must be in the area of direct benefit to their business operations.

All the PSMB scheme are applicable for employees who is citizen of Malaysia, who is employed for wages under a contract of service with an employer, but does not include any domestic servant.

As per Employer Circular 8/2005, in line with our objective to encourage the re-training and skills upgrading of employees and the maximum allowable fee for public programmes will be at the rate of RM1,000.00 per day. Any amount in excess of this will be borne by employers.

Employers can claim for in-house programme either using local or foreign trainers, but prior approval is required under the SBL or SBL-Khas scheme.

Financial assistance is not given to individuals who enroll and finance their own training programmes whether partially or fully and later request their employers for sponsorship. Neither is the financial assistance given to the employers who bear the cost of training after the successful completion of training by their employees.

It depends on which scheme the course that you intend to participate is registered under. If the course is approved under Prolus scheme, prior approval will not be necessary. You will be able to claim the course fees upon completion of the training with proof of participation and receipt for the payment made. For all the other schemes, you be required to apply for the grant at least 2 weeks prior to course commencement.

Training schemes which are being offered are as follows:-

SBL (Skim Bantuan Latihan)
Under this scheme, an employer is allowed to conduct training either on-the-job, off-the-job or combination of both. An employer may also conduct training by engaging internal, external or overseas trainers. Trainers of training providers are not required to register with PSMB under this scheme;

SBL-KHAS Scheme
This scheme is implemented to assist employers who are facing cash flow problems to continue with their retraining and skills upgrading of workforce programmes during the economic slowdown by using the existing levy balance. This scheme is available to all employers registered with PSMB. Under this scheme, employers do not have to pay or only pay a small upfront cost depending on the rate of financial assistance on each training programme. PSMB will directly debit from the employers’ levy account to pay the training fees to the training providers with the authorisation of the employers.

PROLUS (Program Latihan Yang Diluluskan)
Scheme requires training providers to register with PSMB. After which, they may submit their training programmes which are relevant to employers’ training needs for the consideration of the ATP (Approved Training Programmes) status. Employers can select any training programme with ATP status, to send their employees for training without the prior approval of PSMB and claim for reimbursements upon the completion of training, subject to terms and conditions imposed by PSMB;

PERLA (Perjanjian Latihan Dengan Penyedia Latihan)
This scheme is basically a Training Agreement Scheme with selected training providers registered with the PSMB. The objective of the scheme is to lessen the financial burden of employers, particularly the smaller employers. Under the scheme, employers sending their employees for retraining/skills upgrading with these training providers need not to pay the full amount of fees charged. With no or a small upfront cost, PSMB hoped that more employees will be sent for retraining and skills upgrading.

Programmes such as seminars, conferences, talks, study tours, forums, physical training, outdoor training, work camps, orientation courses, briefings and undergraduate courses are not claimable under HRDF. Courses at diploma level that have not obtained the ATP status are also not covered under the HRDF.