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The Labour Department will withdraw the recognition given to the Hong Kong Human Resources Limited for running mandatory safety training courses and its authorisation to issue the relevant certificates from next Monday (July 10).
A notice was served to the course provider earlier today after evidence showed that it conducted the Construction Industry Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course in an improper manner. Among other things, trainees who attended the examination at the end of the course were allowed to discuss the answers with one another.
A spokesman for the department said the irregularities were serious and unacceptable. "It was decided to withdraw the recognition and the authorisation granted to the course provider under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations," the spokesman said.
More than 100 organisations have been authorised to run various types of mandatory safety training courses. Details are given on the department's website. Construction workers who want to check the telephone number of other course providers may call the Labour Department's safety and health hotline on 2559 2297.
"The Labour Department attaches great importance to the quality of the mandatory safety training courses run by the recognised course providers," the spokesman said.
In this connection, the department is issuing a letter to all course providers to remind them of the importance of maintaining the quality of the courses.
All course providers have been reminded to strictly observe the requirements set out in the Guidance Notes issued by the department and the course proposals submitted by course providers. In addition, the conditions of approval should also be fully complied with.
"The department has conducted and will continue to conduct inspections to check the compliance of the approval conditions by course providers," the spokesman said.
"Failure to comply with the conditions of approval may result in the withdrawal of the recognition of the courses and the authorisation to issue the relevant certificates," the spokesman warned.
Ends/Tuesday, July 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:50
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