KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- Multinational companies are urged to join the National Dual Training System (SLDN), in line with the country's aspiration to produce 35 per cent skilled workers by 2020.

Human Resource Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem said 70 to 80 per cent of the SLDN programme comprised practical training while the remaining were theories or classroom learning.

"Through the implementation of SLDN initiative in Malaysia, 106,769 apprentices have been trained, with the accreditation of 5,479 companies and 2,679 training centres," he said during the launching ceremony of McDonald\'s Malaysia SLDN programme here.

He noted that through SLDN initiative that was established in 2005, the country had been able to produce a workforce that was skilled and highly-knowledgeable, thus, meeting the demands of the industry,

Riot added that the make-up of skilled workforce in the country had currently risen to 31 per cent, compared to 28 per cent in 2015.

In the ceremony, McDonald's Malaysia was named as the first fast food outlet to receive SLDN accreditation. The first batch of its SLDN programme will be initiated in March, with 30 apprentices, comprising a mix of current and new workers.