Higher-Skilled workers mean lower levy and extended maximum period of employment.
At a glance
Criteria |
CoreTrade |
Multi-Skilling Scheme |
Direct R1 Pathway |
MBF |
Minimum years of experience |
4 |
4-6 |
No minimum |
6 |
Skills or certification required |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Minimum fixed monthly salary |
No minimum |
No minimum |
$1,600 |
$1,600 |
4 ways to upgrade to "Higher-Skilled"
You pay less levy for “Higher-Skilled” foreign workers. They will also be able to work for up to 26 years, instead of just 14 for “Basic-Skilled” non-Malaysian workers.
There are 4 ways to upgrade your construction workers from “Basic-Skilled” to “Higher-Skilled”:
- CoreTrade
- Multi-Skilling Scheme
- Direct R1 Pathway
- Market-Based Skills Recognition Framework (MBF)
CoreTrade
Years of experience in construction sector |
Minimum 4 years |
Skills or certification required |
CoreTrade skills assessment |
Minimum fixed monthly salary |
No minimum |
More info |
BCA website |
How to upgrade your worker
- Register your worker with BCA for training and skills assessment.
- If your worker passes the test, BCA will inform us and the new levy rate will take effect on the 1st of next month.
- You will also see your worker’s new skill status and levy rate in WP Online.
Multi-Skilling Scheme
Years of experience in construction sector |
Minimum 4 years |
Skills or certification required |
With 4 years' experience:
With 6 years' experience:
- 120 hours of training in approved safety-related courses
OR
- WSQ Advanced Certificate in Workplace Safety & Health
OR
- WSQ in Landscape Operations Composite Assessment (by NParks)
- SEC(K) in Construction-Related (Landscape) (by BCA)
|
Minimum fixed monthly salary |
No minimum |
More info |
BCA website |
How to upgrade your worker
- Your worker must meet the requirements above.
- Register your worker with BCA as a Multi-Skill worker.
- If the registration is successful, BCA will inform us and the new levy rate will take effect on the 1st of next month.
- You will also see your worker’s new skill status and levy rate in WP Online.
Direct R1 Pathway
Years of experience in construction sector |
No minimum |
Skills or certification required |
SEC(K) at higher-skill level |
Minimum fixed monthly salary |
$1,600 |
More info |
BCA website |
How to upgrade your worker
- Ensure your worker’s salary details in WP Online are updated.
- Register your worker with BCA for the SEC(K) test.
- If your worker passes the test, BCA will inform us and the new levy rate will take effect on the 1st of next month.
- You will also see your worker’s new skill status and levy rate in WP Online.
Market-Based Skills Recognition Framework (MBF)
How to upgrade your worker
- Ensure your worker’s salary details in WP Online are updated.
- The new levy rate will take effect on the 1st of next month.
- You will also see your worker’s new skill status and levy rate in WP Online.