About Application for Construction Workers Registration

1) How many categories of registrations are provided? How to distinguish between different categories? How do workers know which categories do they belong to?

According to the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (CWRO), 5 categories of construction workers registration include:

(1)   Registered Skilled Worker (for designated trade division)	Hold a trade test certificate issued by the Construction Industry Council (CIC) or former Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) or Vocational Training Council (VTC), or other qualifications as specified by the CWRO (e.g. other recognized registration, certificates or licenses, etc)
(2)   Registered Skilled Worker (Provisional) (for designated trade division)	For those not holding qualifications listed in item (1), they shall possess not less than 6 years* of experience to personally carry out construction work of a particular trade with documentary proof
(3)   Registered Semi-skilled Worker (for designated trade division)	Hold an intermediate trade test certificate issued by CIC or former CITA or VTC, or other qualifications as specified by the CWRO
(4)   Registered Semi-skilled Worker (Provisional) (for designated trade division)	For those not holding qualifications listed in item (3), they shall possess not less than 2 years* of experience to personally carry out construction work of a particular trade with documentary proof
Registered General Worker	Hold a valid “Green Card”

A worker can apply for appropriate category of registration based on his/her own technical qualification(s) or needs.

* According to the CWRO, the total years of work experience can be calculated up to the effective date of the relevant provisions of the CWRO, i.e. 29 December 2005.

 

2) When a worker apply for registration of skilled worker, he/she shall hold a trade test certificate issued by the Construction Industry Council (CIC), former Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA), Vocational Training Council (VTC), or other specified qualifications. What is a “trade test certificate”? And what do “other specified qualifications” refer to?

A “trade test certificate” refers to the certified qualification obtained after passing the trade test organized by CIC, former CITA or VTC for workers with working experience of 4 years or above.

A worker, who has completed specified apprenticeship training and obtained a graduation certificate of apprenticeship, can apply for exemption and obtain a “trade test certificate” from CIC or VTC.

Workers with working experience of 2 years can obtain intermediate trade test certificates after passing intermediate trade tests.

“Other specified qualifications” refer that workers who carry out relevant works must hold relevant recognized qualifications under the existing legislation, otherwise, it will constitute an offence. For example, an Electrical Fitter must hold registration certificate for electrical worker of grade A, B, C or H electrical work issued under Section 30 of Electricity Ordinance. For “Plant and Equipment Operator (Truck-mounted Crane)”, a worker must hold the certificate stated under Section 15A(1)(b) of Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Lifting Appliances and Lifting Gear) Regulations applicable to truck-mounted crane, etc.

 

3) How to apply for workers registration and what documents are required?

Applicants are required to bring the following documents (both originals and copies), together with the completed application form and registration fee. Submission can be made at one of the Workers Registration Services Centres:

• Hong Kong Identity Card (HKID) (if the applicant is not a permanent resident of Hong Kong, he/she must, apart from his/her HKID (if any), present his/her one-way permit or passport / travel document or other supporting document(s) with valid employment visa for the relevant trade(s) applied for)
• A valid Green Card* (with a remaining validity of minimum 30 days at the date of application)
• Qualification document(s) relevant to the trade(s) for which an application is made*
• Registration fee HK$100

*If workers holding Green Card or Trade Test Certificates issued by the CIC or former CITA, he/she does not require to bring the originals and copies of such documents as the information can be verified by computer.

How to apply:

1) Appointment by Phone
Please call 2873 1911 in 1 to 28 days before the date of application to register for the date, time and office (appointment by fax or e-mail will not be accepted). Applicants who have made an appointment by telephone must arrive the Workers Registration Services Points 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time; or

2) Group Submission of Application Forms
Companies/employers/organisations are welcome to help their workers to submit group application. Please call 2873 3002 to make an appointment.

 

4) How long does it take to process an application?

If the application form has been completed correctly and submitted together with the originals and photocopies of the required documents, each application will take an average of 15 minutes to process.

 

5) How long is the construction worker registration card valid for? How to renew the registration?

The construction workers registration card is normally valid for 5 years. Workers can apply for renewal at Workers Registration Services Locations no earlier than 6 months and no later than 7 days before the expiry date of the current registration.

 

6) Is half of the registration fee required only if a worker holds “other qualifications” (in column 6 of Schedule 1 under the CWRO) of the trade division he/she applies for registration? Why is there such an arrangement?

"Other qualifications" are specific job qualifications required by relevant legislations. Workers are required to pay for the renewal of other qualifications, thus only half of the registration fee will be charged to reduce financial burden on workers.

 

7) How much is the registration fee of apply for more than one trade division?

Application for registration of more than one trade division, registration fee of only one of the trade divisions is required

If the worker holds “other qualifications” (in column 4 of Schedule 1 under) of any of his/her trade divisions, the lowest fee will be charged.

 

8) Is there a deadline for provisional registration?

According to Legal Notice No. 79 of 2018, applications for registration as a registered skilled worker (provisional) and a registered semi-skilled worker (provisional) have been ceased since 1 July 2019.

 

9) What is the consequence if a worker fails to complete the specified training course or pass relevant trade test in 3 years after he/she obtained the provisional registration?

The worker can register as a general worker with a valid Green Card.

 

10) What are “Specified Training Courses”? What are the contents?

Specified training courses are introduced for registered skilled workers (provisional) to register as skilled workers after completing the courses and passing the assessment.

After consultation with industry and trade unions, the specified training courses cover theoretical lectures, practical demonstrations, written examination or interview assessment. Theoretical lectures include specification and application of materials, knowledge of the trade, safety precaution, code of ethics and good construction process.

Specified Training Courses will generally last for a day. Evening courses will be arranged where possible to minimise any inconvenience caused to workers.

The written test is in a multiple-choice format and covers theoretical lectures only. Verbal test can be conducted for illiterate workers. Specified Training Courses for all trade divisions are at a flat rate fee of HK$150.

A total of 67 specified training courses have been launched, Registered Skilled Workers (Provisional) will receive the notice with details such as admission and course contents. Click here to download the application form for Specified Training Courses.

 

11) Are Registered Skilled Workers (Provisional) eligible to register as Skilled Workers after completing the Specified Training Courses?

Yes. Registered Skilled Workers (Provisional) can apply for registration of Skilled Worker after completing the Specified Training Courses of relevant trades.