Hopeful caregivers left stranded without a care

 

Looking after the elderly was the hope of some who attended a caregiver’s course but it stopped half-way.

PETALING JAYA: Nizha (not her real name) had been jobless for seven months when she came across a notice for a caregiver course in January.

After having worked for a major retailer for 32 years until she retired, she saw the course as a chance to put food on the table.

After all, when she signed up for the programme, she was told that she could land a job. The two-week course would prepare participants to become qualified caregivers.

Nizha completed the theory part of the course and was supposed to attend practical training in Sungai Long on Jan 11, when movement control restrictions were announced starting on Jan 13.

For all her effort, all that she has been left with from the course is a certificate of attendance – and dead silence from the organisers.

When she called them, Nizha was told the college was closed, while the training provider made no attempts to give any update in the chat group in which she and the other participants are members.

“We are left hanging. We deserve some kind of feedback,” she told FMT. “Why can’t they understand that we intend to earn a living. Some of us are in need of a job.”

She could not wait for an outcome and is now working temporarily in an admin job in another company, although she admits it is not something she wants to do. “But I need to feed myself.”

Another participant, who only wants to be known as Rose, said the organiser’s silence was “inconvenient”.

She had already been bypassed for several jobs because she has not completed the practical part of the training.

As a tour guide, her income has come to nil with the pandemic wreaking havoc on the tourism industry.

A single mother of two, and still supporting her youngest who has another two years to complete his diploma, she also has monthly bills and a car loan to pay off.

“Initially, I thought it wouldn’t be as financially bad as last year, my daughter would have completed her nursing diploma and would be able to work.

“Unfortunately, her licensing exam was postponed thrice from July and until today, there is still no news when she can sit for the exam,” she said.

Another participant, who wants to be known only as Lee, said she took the course so she could care for her parents.

“When I asked about the results for the test, they told me it would be out in a few days’ time, but I have not heard anything since.”

While earning an income as a caregiver is secondary, Lee really wants to get into the industry. And she needs to get certified before she can do so. “I cannot get hired until I have a black-and-white.”

Rebecca, a freelance special needs educator, is anxious. She had to sacrifice a few gigs to attend the programme. She, too, was told that the exam results for the theory training would be out in a week, but nothing has been forthcoming.

She seeks closure, especially since she had spent time and resources to attend the programme. “We just want an assurance that the programme will be completed. It will be good for the provider to let us know. We just want something official.”

Rebecca hopes the human resources ministry will come to their rescue as the programme was conducted under the supervision of the Human Resource Development Corporation

FMT has contacted a representative from the company, but he said he could not comment on the matter. - FMT