SWCorp collaborates with IPTAs to enhance public cleansing sector, reduce dependence on foreign labour

GEORGE TOWN, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) is committed to making public cleansing management a highly skilled profession through collaboration with public universities, while reducing the dependency on foreign workers.

Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT) secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib said in February 2022, SWCorp had established a collaboration in the field with Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

He said USM was the only Public Higher Education Institution (IPTA) in the country that had a solid waste management cluster and the first one to implement Malaysian skills certification in the field of solid waste and public cleansing management.

This new initiative is to implement a dual certificate programme where students will be awarded two certificates after graduation, namely a Bachelor's Degree certificate from the IPTA and also a Malaysian Skills Certificate (SKM) through the SWTC Training Centre.

"The skills training module in the field will be introduced to two more public universities namely Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) starting January 2023, and targets 300 IPTA students to participate in the programme.

"As for the industrial sector, the invitation is also open to landfill operators and contractors who manage the country's solid waste so that the goal of creating a chain of skilled workers in the solid waste management sector can be realised," said M Noor Azman in his opening speech at the SWCorp’s Second Convocation at USM here today.

He added that the implementation of the Malaysian Skills Certification system for local workers in the solid waste management and public cleansing sector by KPKT through SWCorp was in line with the Government's desire to empower Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Malaysia.

He said this could have a positive impact on employment opportunities for locals to reduce dependence on foreign workers in the sector.

At today's ceremony, M Noor Azman presented awards to 200 Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 2 apprentices for the skills training programme related to solid waste collection and public cleansing at USM.

-- BERNAMA