QWORK Manpower Hub (QMH), the learning and development subsidiary of VC-backed Odd Technologies Sdn Bhd (Qwork Malaysia), has been launched to help strengthen Malaysia’s pool of certified local talent in technical and high-demand industries.
The launch, held in conjunction with the opening of QMH’s fundraising round on the equity crowdfunding platform ATAAta Plus, marks the company’s expansion into structured training and workforce development. The platform is regulated by the Securities Commission Malaysia.
QMH serves as Qwork’s dedicated learning and development arm, aimed at transforming Malaysia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem by linking certified training directly to employment opportunities in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, manufacturing and aviation.
Operating on an asset-light model, QMH partners with accredited training providers and industry bodies instead of building physical training infrastructure, ensuring scalability, speed and closer alignment with market needs.
Representing the Federation of JPK Accredited Centres Malaysia (FeMAC) at the launch was its secretary-general, Prof Datuk Mazrin Rohizaq Che Rose, who highlighted the importance of collaboration between training providers and employers. An official memorandum of understanding between QMH and FeMAC will be signed at a later date.
“We know manpower supply — it’s been our core business since 2017,” said Qwork chief strategy and financial officer Dr Mimi Aminah. “This move into structured learning and development is a natural progression because employers aren’t just struggling to hire — they’re struggling to plan for succession.
“With QMH, we’re calling on employers in high-tech and engineering-driven industries to reduce over-reliance on foreign labour and instead build long-term local talent pipelines,” he said.
QMH’s rollout will take place in two phases. The first focuses on partnerships with TVET centres to deliver structured, industry-aligned job placements. The second phase will embed National Occupational Skills Standard (NOSS)-aligned learning modules directly into the Qwork app, allowing students to track classroom and field progress digitally while providing employers with real-time access to certified talent pools.
The launch was officiated by Department of Skills Development (JPK) deputy director-general (Development), Ir Ts Dr Azmi Ahmad, who said the initiative marked a significant step in strengthening Malaysia’s TVET landscape.
“With a platform that can train, track and place students directly into the workforce, we are not only enhancing the employability of graduates but also reducing dependency on foreign labour,” he said.
“JPK supports initiatives such as this as they align with the national agenda to produce a skilled, resilient local workforce capable of meeting the needs of future industries.”
Through its ongoing fundraising campaign on ATAAta Plus, QMH is inviting investors, industry players and TVET institutions to participate in shaping Malaysia’s workforce future.
With foreign labour costs rising and regulatory pressure increasing, QMH positions itself as a scalable, sustainable solution for building a job-ready Malaysian workforce aligned with the nation’s economic priorities.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
