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” construction workers. Workers from NTS and PRC will also be able to work for up to 26 years, instead of just 14 years for “Basic-Skilled” 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
- One of the following:
- WSQ Higher Certificate in Landscape (Horticulture and Turf Maintenance)
- WSQ Certificate in Landscape Operations by NParks (This programme is no longer available and valid only for certification obtained before 10 Feb 2022.)
- SEC(K) in Construction-Related (Landscape) (by BCA)
- Employed by a firm that is registered under NParks’ LCR
|
| 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 |
| Certification required |
Depending on which country they are from, workers must have one of the following certificates:
Malaysia
- SPM
- SEC(K)
- SEC(K) at higher-skill level
- End-of-course validation of ALP
North Asian source (NAS)
- SEC(K)
- SEC(K) at higher-skill level
- End-of-course validation of ALP
Non-traditional source (NTS) and People’s Republic of China (PRC)
- SEC(K) at higher-skill level
|
| Minimum fixed monthly salary |
$1,600 |
| More info |
BCA website |
- Malaysian and NAS construction Work Permit holders will qualify for the Direct R1 Pathway if they:
- Earn a minimum fixed monthly salary of $1,600
- Have one of the following:
- SEC(K)
- SPM (for Malaysians only)
- End-of-course validation of the Accelerated Learning Programme (ALP)
- Please refer to BCA’s website for more information.
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.
The R1 eligibility status of a worker is valid for 2 years. To renew the R1 eligibility or check the expiry date of their R1 eligibility, workers can log into the BCA Construction Workforce Registration System (CWRS) – Direct R1 Renewal portal.
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.