Labour Department withdraws and suspends recognition of Mandatory Safety Training Courses operated by two training course providers
The Labour Department (LD) today (December 12) withdrew and suspended the recognition of courses for operating excavators from two Mandatory Safety Training (MST) course providers for failure to comply with the Approval Conditions (ACs) for Operating MST courses.
The LD withdrew the recognition of Construction Machinery Technical Training Centre for conducting the training courses for Experienced Operators of Excavator (Excavator-EO) under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings (Loadshifting Machinery) Regulation (Cap. 59 Subsidiary Legislation) today and suspended its recognition for conducting the revalidation training courses for Operators of Excavator (Excavator-R) for a period of three months, until March 11, 2025.
The LD also suspended from today the recognition of Hong Kong Construction Industry Professional Plant-Operators and Mechanics' Association for conducting training courses for Excavator-EO for a period of six months, until June 11, 2025.
Regarding the earlier operation by the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Mandatory Safety Training (MST) courses for excavator operators, the LD completed its investigation. The LD discovered that the aforementioned two training course providers (TCPs) violated the ACs for Operating MST courses, which includes failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trainees enrolled in the safety training courses had met the specified admission requirements, and failing to prohibit their employees from soliciting, or accepting benefits as defined by the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (Cap. 201). The TCPs did not fulfil their supervision and management responsibilities. After conducting thorough investigations and gathering evidence, and taking into account the explanations and representations provided by the two TCPs, the LD considered that the nature of the incident was serious and made corresponding decisions to withdraw and suspend recognition for their respective courses.
A spokesman for the LD said, "The LD is highly concerned about the quality of MST courses. We will deploy manpower for special inspections from time to time to monitor compliance of ACs by recognised TCPs with a view to maintaining the standard of the training courses, and ensuring workers receive appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) training as well as understand the importance of work safety. If the TCPs do not comply with the ACs set by the LD, their recognition to operate the relevant courses will be withdrawn. The LD will continue to closely monitor the quality of all TCPs and their trainers, striving to enhance the standard of OSH in Hong Kong."
The spokesman also reminded those who are interested in enrolling in the MST courses that require proof of working experience or employer reference letters to use valid proof to apply for the courses. Using false documents is a serious criminal offence. Any certificate obtained through such means will be deemed invalid.
If the public encounters or suspects individuals who claim to be able to provide false proof of working experience or employer reference letters to help applicants obtain relevant MST course certificates, please report them immediately to the LD via the mobile phone app "OSH 2.0" or the online OSH complaint platform (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ld0001/en).
After imposing the above sanctions, there are two recognised TCPs for the Excavator-EO Course and two recognised TCPs for the Excavator-R Course. The relevant course information is available on the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/lsmemmexv.htm). For enquiries, please call the LD's Occupational Safety and Health Training Centre hotline at 2940 7064 or the department's occupational safety and health advisory service hotline at 2559 2297.
