KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — National Labour Productivity registered a 4.2 per cent growth in the third quarter of this year, higher than the average annual growth of 3.7 per cent set under the 11th Malaysia Plan, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the figure was based on the sustainable growth of the Gross Domestic Product at 6.2 per cent and an annual growth rate of 2 per cent for the same period.

He said the increase in the labour productivity was attributed to four major sectors, namely agriculture, registering an increase of 5.2 per cent; manufacturing (5.1 per cent); construction (4.8 per cent) and services (3.7 per cent).

"The achievement of the labour productivity so far has been impressive and in line with the government desire to achieve a productivity-driven economy,” he said when releasing the Quarterly Labour Productivity Report after chairing a meeting of the National Productivity Council at Parliament House here today.

Najib said the National Productivity Council believed that the achievement could be sustained to produce sustainable and inclusive economic growth that would benefit the people.

The Prime Minister said the meeting, which was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, decided, among others, that productivity issues be made a part of the national agenda accorded high priority by the government.

He said it was also decided to monitor labour productivity and release quarterly reports, the first of which was issued today.

Najib also said that the meeting, the second to be held, also decided that the National Oversight Productivity Council be absorbed under the National Productivity Council so that the implementation at the Nexus-level could be monitored to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the implementation of the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint.

At the event, Najib presented official letters of appointment to the chiefs of each new productivity Nexus unit, namely agro-food; machinery and equipment; tourism; private healthcare; ICT services; and professional services.

He said the Productivity Nexus, which was a centre of excellence for all matters relating to productivity improvement at sector- and enterprise-levels, would drive productivity initiatives with the government’s collaboration with each Productivity Nexus, which would be given a launching grant of RM5 million to conduct initial activities.

"In that regard, industries and enterprises are encouraged to take advantage of the Nexus-provided programmes to increase productivity in various sectors,” he said.

Najib said that at least 89 existing programmes could be used by industries, with an allocation of RM9.5 billion for the period from 2017 to 2020. — Bernama