The Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) has announced changes to its unskilled worker certification in a bid to encourage site operatives to take up training.
Executive director of operations Gary Mortimer said reducing how long Labourer cards are valid would encourage new industry entrants to apply instead for a ‘red card’, which are only available to those in training.
Red CSCS cards signify the holder is undertaking a traineeship, apprenticeship or industry placement, or registered to complete a higher-level qualification such as an NVQ or SVQ.
The level of training required for a Labourer card is much lower. To obtain a card, applicants must pass a Construction Industry Training Board health, safety and environment test and hold a CSCS-approved health and safety qualification.
Labourer cards are currently valid for five years and cannot be renewed. But from 1 February next year, a Labourer card will initially be valid for only two years, with the option to renew if the holder can prove they still work in a labouring role.
Mortimer said the changes better align with the competency expectations of the Building Safety Act, as red cards “demonstrate to employers that the card holder is on a recognised training pathway that supports long-term career progression”.
The changes would also address a current oversupply of Labourer cards and ensure only those carrying out “genuine labouring duties” could carry them, the CSCS announcement said.
CSCS data suggests 85 per cent of Labourer cardholders do not renew their cards, and employers have reported workers leaving the industry long before their cards expire, Mortimer added.
He said: “By reducing the Labourer card’s initial validity to two years, we can better track the actual number of active labourers in the sector.
“The requirement for proof of working in a labouring role upon renewal will ensure the card is no longer used as the default easy option for site access.”
CSCS said it had consulted on the move with employers, standard-setting bodies and more than 40 “sector-representative” organisations and unions.
Earlier this week, Construction News revealed that around 15,000 workers had not signed up to replace CSCS Industry Accreditation cards, which will be withdrawn at the end of the year.
The National Federation of Builders has warned that removing accreditation through employer recommendation may prompt older workers to leave the industry.
