CIDBH- iENTRY System To Enhance management Of Foreign Construction workers

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), through its subsidiary CIDB Holdings Sdn Bhd, has launched the CIDBH - iENTRY System to enhance the management of foreign workers in the construction industry.

In a statement today, CIDB said it also aims to introduce an integrated system to ensure compliance with laws related to the welfare and safety of skilled foreign workers.

“One of the system’s main features is the management of foreign workers’ registration through a biometric system after they receive the Construction Skills Competence Certificate in their source country, which is certified and verified by CIDB.

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“It also includes holistic monitoring of foreign workers’ welfare, including the management of their accommodations,” it said.

The system also facilitates employers’ compliance with requirements set under the Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board Act 1994, the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 and the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988.

According to CIDB, with the implementation of the CIDBH - iENTRY System, the monitoring of foreign workers and legal compliance will become more effective, thus ensuring their well-being and safety.

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In addition, the system helps the government address the issue of unqualified foreign workers by ensuring that only those with valid certifications are allowed to work at construction sites, thereby reducing safety risks.

As of September 2024, CIDB records show that 465,591 foreign construction workers were registered nationwide, with 150,699 in Kuala Lumpur and 166,456 in Selangor.

Meanwhile, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the system would help update foreign worker records, allowing their data to be accurately monitored and reported to the government.

“This system can also holistically monitor foreign workers’ welfare, addressing issues such as expiring temporary work visit passes (PLKS), overstays, health records, accommodation, social concerns, in addition to assisting employers.

“This system will enable a more organised and better management of foreign workers, enhancing Malaysia’s image as a country that cares and adheres to the highest standards in handling foreign workers,” he said in a social media post today.

Nanta said although the system has yet to be made compulsory, KKR strongly encouraged employers to use it and welcomed the cooperation of relevant ministries and agencies to ensure its successful implementation.

Citing Immigration Department records as of March 15, Nanta said there were 2.17 million foreign workers in Malaysia, with 465,591 of them employed in the construction sector and registered with CIDB.

“Hundreds of thousands of these workers are similar to us; they are human beings working in a foreign land. Nevertheless, their welfare is not taken lightly by the government, which is why KKR has launched the CIDBH-I ENTRY system,” he said.

-- BERNAMA