CIDB aims to produce more local workers
The Star 1/5/2006 By Farik Zolkepli

JOHOR BARU: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) is working towards ensuring there are more local skilled workers, said its chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Abdullah.

“Since 1997, CIDB has produced 65,000 local skilled workers but the current construction industry needs at least 500,000.

“We want to produce more local workers for the sector. Our aim is to reduce the number of foreign workers,” said Abdullah after giving away prizes at the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Skilled Workers Competition here on Wednesday.

He said there was a need for more skilled workers particularly in implementing the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“Our goal is to produce more local workers by 2020 to reduce the foreign labour work force.”

CIDB has implemented a system of accrediting skilled workers to maintain a high standard in the workforce.

Abdul Rahman said it was compulsory for all contractors to hire skilled workers accredited by CIDB.

“These workers will get higher pay than normal labourers,” he said, adding that those who wanted to be accredited must undergo a series of tests.

He said that those who failed could opt to undergo training and would be reassessed at the end of the training.