Construction Registration of Tradesmen (CoreTrade) Frequently Asked Questions

General Registration Deployment

General Q1: Why do we need CoreTrade? Q2: Is CoreTrade only for local workers? Q3: Is the CoreTrade scheme going to increase construction costs?

Registration Q4: What are the benefits of this Scheme to the workers? Q5: Can a worker apply to become a tradesman if he does not have a qualification in the relevant trade that he wants to be registered in? Q6: What is a skills assessment? Is the skills assessment compulsory for all applicants? Q7: Can a Licensed Plumber or Licensed Electrical Worker become a CoreTrade personnel? Q8: Can a construction foreman be registered as a tradesman in the same trade? Q9: Why should a contractor send his eligible workers for registration early? After all, CoreTrade workers will only be required 6 months after registration begins. Q10 What are the fees required for registration and the skills assessment? : Q11 Why is the CoreTrade pass only valid for 2 years? : Q12 My workers SEC(K) certificate has been retained by his ex-company. Is he : able to register without a carbon copy of his certificate? Q13 Will other trades such as plastering be included in the CoreTrade scheme? :

Deployment Q14 Why does the Main Contractor need to update the deployment status of the : registered CoreTrade personnel in his projects? Q15 As the system requires Main Contractors to submit the deployment plan within 1 : month of the permit, how will BCA notify to acknowledge that the plan has been submitted? Q16 Can a CoreTrade personnel be concurrently deployed in more than 1 project? :

Q17 What happens if a Class 1 General Builder is unable to meet the CoreTrade : requirements for his project?

General Q1: Why do we need CoreTrade? The construction industry plays a key role in shaping our built environment, supporting Singapores economic growth and enhancing the quality of life of our people. It is hence crucial for Singapore to have a competent and progressive workforce to support our construction activities and realise our vision to deliver a world class built environment for Singapore and our people. CoreTrade aims to build up a core group of skilled and experienced construction personnel in key construction trades to anchor and lead the workforce. Key trades are those which are higher value-adding and have high impact on construction quality, productivity and safety. In essence, CoreTrade provides a platform for the better and more experienced workers to be given due recognition. It also provides a well defined career progression path for the workers, where one could move up from a general worker, to a CoreTrade tradesman specializing in higher value-adding trades, to eventually become a trade foreman. This will help in attracting and retaining the better workers, and hence enhance construction quality, productivity and safety levels in the construction sector over time. Q2: Is CoreTrade only for local workers? Workers who are eligible for registration would include locals, as well as suitable longer-staying and experienced foreign workers who have been working in the Singapore construction industry. Construction personnel, local and foreign alike, will be assessed based on their skill level and relevant working experience for registration under the CoreTrade scheme. Q3: Is the CoreTrade scheme going to increase construction costs? No, the cost impact to the industry is expected to be minimal as BCA will be waiving registration fees during the initial period, and CoreTrade will start at a low base such that CoreTrade requirements could be satisfied with the existing workforce. Costs for skills assessment are also set at a cost-recovery basis so that the cost to the industry is kept as low as possible.

Registration

Q4: What are the benefits of this Scheme to the workers? This scheme provides a form of recognition for the experienced and skilled workers. It distinguishes them from the other construction workers, and instills a sense of pride in their trade. When employers identify these workers to be potential CoreTrade personnel, they are also recognizing that these workers form the anchor group within their firms. Q5: Can a worker apply to become a tradesman if he does not have a qualification in the relevant trade that he wants to be registered in? In the absence of a relevant trade skill certification, the applicant will have to go through a skills assessment to verify that he indeed has the necessary skill competency in the trade that he wishes to be registered in. He will also be assessed on his relevant experience in the industry. Q6: What is a skills assessment? Is the skills assessment compulsory for all applicants? A skills assessment is a practical-based verification of an applicants competency in the trade that he wishes to be registered in, by testing the worker in key aspects of the trade. It will be conducted at the BCA Academy, or on- site in cases where applicable. Q7: Can a Licensed Plumber or Licensed Electrical Worker become a CoreTrade personnel? Yes. A plumber licensed by Public Utilities Board will directly qualify to be registered as a trade foreman in plumbing and piping works, while an electrical worker licensed by the Energy Market Authority will directly qualify for registration as a foreman in electrical works. No skills assessment is required. Similarly, a worker authorised by Ministry of Manpower to operate cranes under its Workplace Safety and Health (Operation of Cranes) Regulations, will directly qualify to be a tradesman in construction plant operation. Please note, however, that being a registered tradesman/ foreman in the above cases does not automatically qualify a worker to become a Licensed Plumber, Licensed Electrical Worker or authorized crane operator. Q8: Can a construction foreman be registered as a tradesman in the same trade? Yes. In fact, when a construction foreman is registered, he is concurrently registered as a tradesman in the same trade as well. This means that he can also be deployed on site as a tradesman, provided he is not already deployed in another site during the same period of time. There is no need to make a separate application to be registered as a tradesman.

However, please note that this is only applicable for following 3 trades, as these are the trades with registration for both tradesmen and foremen: 1. Electrical works 2. Plumbing and piping works 3. Tiling and stone laying works Q9: Why should a contractor send his eligible workers for registration early? After all, CoreTrade workers will only be required 6 months after registration begins. By sending in the applications as soon as the registration commences, contractors and sub-contractors can avoid the mad rush that is expected closer to the date when CoreTrade deployment requirements are imposed on new projects. BCA will also be able to provide facilitation and advice on the workers who are qualified for registration, and the available courses that workers can take to upgrade themselves. Q10 What are the fees required for registration and the skills assessment? : Although an application fee of $20 for registration of construction tradesman or foreman in any one of the trades has been prescribed in the Regulations, BCA will be waiving the fees during the initial period to help defray part of the cost to the industry. Fees for skills assessment range between $160 and $300, depending on the trade involved. Skills assessments for operation of construction plant, such as track shovel and piling rig, have higher costs, but all costs are set on a cost-recovery basis. (All prices quoted are not inclusive of GST.) Q11 Why is the CoreTrade pass only valid for 2 years? : Renewals will allow for the regular updating of the list of active CoreTrade tradesmen and foremen in the industry. If renewal is not required, the register will only become outdated, as some of the workers might have retired or left Singapore. Q12 My workers SEC(K) certificate has been retained by his ex-company. Is he able to : register without a carbon copy of his certificate? No. He needs to obtain a letter from Skill Certification Department to confirm that he has attained the SEC(K) certificate, subject to an administrative fee.

Q13 Will other trades such as plastering be included in the CoreTrade scheme? : BCA will commence CoreTrade with a few identified key trades to build up a critical mass of workers in these trades before moving on to include other trades. Other trades such as plastering could be considered for inclusion at a later stage of CoreTrade implementation.

Deployment Q14 Why does the Main Contractor need to update the deployment status of the : registered CoreTrade personnel in his projects? It is the main contractors responsibility to regularly update the plan to accurately reflect the deployment on site. When BCAs officers conduct site audits, they will base their checks on CoreTrade personnel deployment on the deployment plan submitted and updated by the main contractor. Q15 As the system requires Main Contractors to submit the deployment plan within 1 : month of the permit, how will BCA notify to acknowledge that the plan has been submitted? The contractor will be able to see online what he has submitted. Reminders will be sent to the contractor if BCA does not receive the plan within the time frame. Q16 Can a CoreTrade personnel be concurrently deployed in more than 1 project? : No. At any point in time, a CoreTrade personnel can only be deployed in 1 project. Q17 What happens if a Class 1 General Builder is unable to meet the CoreTrade : requirements for his project? BCA understands that CoreTrade is a new scheme, and as much as possible, BCA will work with contractors to meet the necessary requirements. If the contractors project is so unique that its manpower deployment needs vary from the usual building works and hence the contractor is unable to comply for that project, BCA can facilitate on a case-by-case basis. BCA will also provide support and assistance in helping contractors identify workers who are eligible for the scheme so that they can be deployed on site as CoreTrade personnel