Read the case study given below and answer all the questions given at

the end of the case study.

Survey shows Malaysia's top employers offering jobs despite pandemic

By Bernama $-$ May $9,2021$

KUALA LUMPUR: A survey by LinkedIn has identified $15$ top companies

in Malaysia which have continued to hire new employees despite the

ongoing pandemic that have severely affected business activities.

According to GKK Consultants Sdn Bhd $($GKK$),$ the poll by the social

networking website for business professionals revealed that more than

$45,000$ jobs are currently waiting to be filled in the country.

The top employers comprise local companies and multinational

corporations, including Petronas, Permodalan Nasional Bhd $($PNB$),$ Tenaga

Nasional Bhd$,$ Telekom Malaysia Bhd$,$ Malayan Banking Bhd and Axiata

Group.

GKK$,$ a human resource and training consultancy which works closely with

the Social Security Organisation $($Socso$),$ said the poll revealed that these

employers have offered job$-$seekers places within their organisations to grow

their professional careers.

"Although this survey singled out top Malaysian corporations that have

grown by leaps and bounds over the years, there are many positive traits and

examples that small and medium$-$sized enterprises $($SMEs$)$ can follow and

emulate within their own management systems," GKK$\text{'}$s group chief

executive officer, Gajendran Balasingham, said in a statement today.

Linkedln's methodology covered seven key areas, namely, career

progression, advancement and promotions, human resources skills, company

stability and affinity, gender diversity and educational background.

$"$No matter how small their workforce is$,$ what shines through is the

employers' emphasis on employee growth, ongoing training and skills

upgrade, and tracking employees' mental health and well$-$being, especially

during these uncertain times of the pandemic," he said.

Although many SMEs have had to close down due to financial difficulties,

many have also braved the uncertainties, changing their business strategies

and staying afloat while still maintaining staff strength with the hope that

conditions would eventually improve.

More than $67,000$ people were retrenched just between January and July last

year.

"Together with the Socso and the Human Resources Development Fund,

GKK has been conducting customised training courses to help these workers

enhance and elevate their skills with the aim of maximising their competitive

advantage," said Gajendran.

With these new skills, they are better equipped for re$-$employment.

$"$We have conducted around $80$ sessions with the aim of equipping them

with current skills expected within their sectors and to improve their

employability.

$"$So far, more than $500$ workers who were retrenched have been retrained

under the Employee Insurance System $($EIS$)$ which is paid for by Socso," he

added. $-$ Bernama

Describe FOUR $(4)$ measures that can be taken by employers to avoid

retrenchment of employees during crisis or economic downturn.

$(50$ marks$)$