CLAB to Strengthen Skilled Foreign Workers Management

KUALA LUMPUR – Construction Labour Exchange Centre Berhad (CLAB), a subsidiary of the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), aims to strengthen its role as a one-stop centre for managing foreign labour in Malaysia’s construction sector over the next five years.

CLAB chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Rafik Abdul Rajis said this move is crucial to ensure the industry remains competitive through the use of legal, competent, and safety-compliant foreign workers.

He said one of CLAB’s key initiatives is the implementation of the Construction Skills Competency Certificate (SKKP) issued by CIDB to foreign construction workers who have undergone skills assessments at the Malaysian Construction Academy (ABM).

“SKKP is not just a recognition document—it serves as an industry standard to ensure workers are truly skilled, disciplined, and compliant with on-site safety requirements. It also opens doors to better career opportunities, both locally and abroad,” he said in a statement.

Abdul Rafik explained that SKKP benefits employers by reducing poor-quality work risks, cutting repair costs, shortening construction timelines, and boosting project productivity.

CLAB and Skilled Foreign Worker Management

In addition to SKKP, CLAB is enhancing public awareness of the improved CIDB Green Card. The card introduced in 2015, which now enhanced the function of E-Wages/E-Wallet and Site Attendance System (SAS) features.

He added that E-Wages will introduce digital salary payments with a direct debit function, promoting a more transparent, sustainable, and cost-effective Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practice. So far, over 500,000 foreign workers registered with CIDB hold the Green Card.

On challenges, Abdul Rafik noted that some parties remain unfamiliar with Green card and its function, but CLAB is confident that training, education, and continuous support will accelerate industry acceptance of the initiative.

He added that the success of SKKP implementation and enhancements to the Green Card system not only guarantee the competency of foreign construction workers but also drive the national construction industry toward greater transparency, competitiveness, and international recognition.

Concluding his statement, Abdul Rafik said CLAB aims to fully manage all processes involving foreign construction worker recruitment and ensure every worker possesses valid accreditation.

“With this achievement, Malaysia’s construction industry will become more organized, transparent, and competitive—positioning the country as a regional model in skilled foreign labour management,” he said.

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