THE Human Resources Ministry wants to transform the dirty, dangerous and difficult (3D) sector into one with high-income jobs to reduce dependence on foreign labour.

Its secretary-general Zaini Ujang said those involved in the sector should continue to gain knowledge, especially in the technical, vocational, education and training (TVET) field to become highly skilled workers.

“To reduce dependence on foreign labour, we need training, and the TVET sector (in the country) provides various trainings,” he told reporters after launching the “TVET Pemangkin Pembentukan Malaysia Madani” seminar on National TVET Day 2023 at the Centre for Instructor Advanced Skill Training in Shah Alam today.

Zaini said those trained in the TVET sector have higher work productivity compared with workers not from the field, in line with the country’s aim to have 35% of Malaysian workers highly skilled by 2030.

“Indirectly, our country will not depend on foreign workers in the 3D field, especially with the number of foreign workers throughout the country reaching almost 1.5 million so far,” he said. – Bernama, June 2, 2023.