The Construction Workers Registration Bill which is gazetted today (March 7) provides the legal framework for the establishment of a mandatory registration system for construction workers to regulate their delivery of work on construction site.
The Bill, to be introduced into the Legislative Council on March 19, also covers the setting up of a statutory registration authority to administer the Ordinance and the imposition of a levy to be paid by contractors carrying out construction works.
The implementation of the registration system is expected to start one year after passage of the Bill.
The key features of the proposed registration system are formulated after extensive consultation with stakeholders of the construction industry. The objectives are to:
* ensure the quality of construction works through assessment and certification of the skill levels of all construction workers;
* ensure the availability of more reliable data on labour supply to facilitate manpower planning and training;
* raise the status of construction workers by statutorily recognising their skill levels;
* foster a quality culture in the construction industry by providing the workers with a clear career path with a view to motivating them for higher skill levels;
* help combat hiring of illegal workers on construction sites; and
* ensure the availability of site entry and exit records that may assist in resolving some of the wage disputes between the contractors and the workers.
All construction workers who carry out construction work on construction sites are required to register under the proposed registration system according to their skill levels.
Construction workers who possess trade test certificate or equivalent may apply for registration as registered skilled worker or registered semi-skilled worker for individual designated trades. Other workers with simple job-related skills may seek registration as registered general workers.
A one-off provision will be included to allow senior workers to seek registration as registered skilled workers by passing an assessment interview. Other workers with stipulated experience but without the relevant qualifications will also be allowed to seek registration as registered skilled workers (provisional) or registered semi-skilled workers (provisional).
Registered construction workers have to complete short development courses for renewal of their registrations every three years. They are not required to attend trade tests at renewal except those trades specified under existing ordinances.
A review and appeal mechanism will be established to deal with requests for review or appeal against the decisions of the Registration Authority or the Registrar. A Complaints Committee will also be set up to deal with complaints against the registered workers.
Workers applying for registration or renewal of registration have to pay a small registration fee and a renewal fee. The balance of the operating costs of the proposed Registration System is to be met by a levy imposed on construction works.
End/Friday, March 7, 2003
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