Following is a question by the Hon Wong Kwok Hing and a written reply by the Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (January 10):
Question:
Upon full implementation of the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance, the work described in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the Ordinance may only be carried out by registered skilled workers for the relevant designated trades, or by registered construction workers under the instruction and supervision of such registered skilled workers. That Schedule also stipulates that only the "competent lift workers" and "competent escalator workers" (hereinafter "competent workers") within the meaning of section 29A(4) of the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance may be registered as skilled workers for lifts and escalators respectively. Some trade unions have estimated that at present, about 3,000 persons cannot be registered because they are not regarded as competent workers for the reason that they are not directly employed by registered contractors for the relevant trades. Notwithstanding that some of these workers have over 10 years of work experience, all of them can only be registered as general construction workers and some of them may eventually be forced to switch to other trades. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it will adopt any one of the following measures:
(a) to amend the definitions of competent workers in the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance to include mechanics who are not directly employed by registered contractors for the relevant trades but have the specified years of work experience; and
(b) to amend the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance by allowing lift and escalator mechanics who do not fall within the definitions of competent workers but with a certain number of years of work experience to be registered as skilled workers?
Reply:
Madam President,
(1) There are two routes to become a "competent lift/escalator worker" under section 29A(4) of the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance ("the Ordinance"). A person is qualified if he -
(a) is the holder of a certificate in mechanical, electrical, electronic or building services engineering, or has completed a course relating to lifts/escalators at any technical institute or Vocational Training Centre or such equivalent course as is approved by the Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services ("the Director"), and has undergone such craft apprenticeship in lift/escalator works as is approved by the Director for a period, or an aggregate period, of not less than 4 years; or
(b) has been in the employment, for a period, or an aggregate period, of not less than 4 years, of any registered lift/escalator contractor and is considered by the registered lift/escalator contractor by whom he is employed to have had sufficient experience or training in lift/escalator works of that particular type so as to carry out such lift/escalator works competently without supervision.
The Administration is exploring the feasibility of a scheme to enable those who possess sufficient skills and work experience but have not undergone formal academic training or craft apprenticeship to become "competent lift/escalator workers" under section 29A(4)(a) of the Ordinance. The proposed scheme will involve refresher top-up training courses and arrangements to verify previous training received by the workers.
Under the proposed scheme, if lift/escalator workers fulfill the requirements under section 29A(4)(a) of the Ordinance as "competent lift/escalator workers", such status does not require the recognition by registered lift/escalator contractors. If the workers change their employers, the status of being "competent lift/escalator workers" will remain.
The proposed scheme does not involve legislative amendments. The Administration is mapping out the details and actively examining the feasibility of the scheme, with a view to consulting the industry as soon as possible.
(2) The proposed new scheme mentioned in the first part of the reply will enable lift/escalator workers who possess sufficient skills and work experience but have not undergone formal academic training or craft apprenticeship to become "competent lift/escalator workers" under section 29A(4)(a) of the Ordinance, and thereby satisfying the requirements to become registered skilled workers for the lift/escalator mechanic trades under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance. As such, there is no need to amend the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance.
Ends/Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:01
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