REVISED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION, SHIP-BUILDING AND SHIP-REPAIRING INDUSTRIES

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1 REVISED TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKERS IN CONSTRUCTION, SHIP-BUILDING AND SHIP-REPAIRING INDUSTRIES Changes to the Construction Safety Orientation Course (CSOC) and Shipyard Safety Instruction Course (SSIC) 1 What are the changes to the certification requirements for the CSOC and SSIC? The changes are: New foreign workers required to take CSOC/SSIC must do so within 2 weeks of arrival. Re-certification will be required every 2 years for workers with less than 6 years of working experience, and every 4 years for those with 6 years or more of working experience. Workers required to be re-certified can pass a re-certification test, without having to undergo the course again. Those who fail will need to undergo CSOC/SSIC and pass a re-test. Besides questions on workplace safety, workers will also be tested on their rights and responsibilities under Singapore s employment laws. 2 When will the changes for the CSOC and SSIC take effect? The changes will take effect from 1 July For new foreign workers, what are the changes that employers need to take note of for the CSOC and SSIC? For new foreign workers, employers must ensure that they take the course within 2 weeks of their arrival in Singapore before their work permits can be issued. This is in addition to the current requirement that FWs must pass the test within 3 months of their arrival. If the FW fails to meet either condition, his WP will be revoked and the employer will be required to repatriate the worker. 4 For new foreign workers, will employers be able to register them for the CSOC and SSIC courses before they arrive in Singapore? Yes, the Approved Training Providers can register workers before they arrive in Singapore. It is advisable that employers register workers for the course once the date of arrival has been confirmed, so that workers can 1

2 undergo the course as early as possible after arrival. 5 What are the changes for existing workers for the CSOC and SSIC? Existing workers renewing their course certification for CSOC and SSIC no longer need to take the course for re-certification. Instead, they will only be required to pass the test. However, if the workers fail the re-certification test at the first attempt, they will be required to go through the course and pass the test to be re-certified. Workers with less than six years of experience in the relevant industry will need to be re-certified every two years, while those with six years of experience or more will only be required to do so every four years. Foreign workers renewing their work permit must have a remaining certificate validity of at least 1 month before the Work Permit renewal request is processed. 6 Why are the changes to the training and certification requirements imposed on the construction and marine industry only? Will the requirements be extended to other industries? As the construction and marine industries generally pose greater safety and health risks for workers, the WSH Competency, Education and Training subcommittee of the WSH Advisory Committee (WSHAC) has reviewed the current training and certification framework in these two industries and are making changes to it. These changes aim to ensure that new workers are trained as early as possible before they start work and encourage employers to provide regular training to their existing workers. The WSHAC and MOM will jointly review the need to introduce similar requirements for other industries. 7 What are the transitional arrangements for current workers in the marine industry affected by the changes in the certification validity of SSIC? Existing workers in the marine industry whose certificates expire before the next renewal of work permit, will need to be re-certified by the certificate expiry date. Otherwise their work permits cannot be renewed when the time comes. Existing marine workers who hold certificates that are two years or older at work permit renewal, will need to be re-certified before their work permits 2

3 can be renewed. 8 What are the changes to the syllabus for CSOC and SSIC? Workers will be tested on employment issues such as their rights and responsibilities under the WSH Act, Workmen s Compensation Act and other employment legislation. Sample questions will be made available online on MOM s website from mid-june What are the changes to the test format for CSOC and SSIC? The test will continue to comprise multiple choice questions (MCQ) and be conducted by the Accredited Training Providers (ATPs). Besides the current 30 MCQ questions on safety and health issues, there will be an additional 10 questions on the workers well-being. All the questions will be developed and administered by MOM. 10 What is the passing mark for CSOC and SSIC? The current passing mark of 60% will be retained. 11 What is the time commitment required for the CSOC and SSIC course? The CSOC and SSIC will continue to be a one-day course, including the test. 12 Who are the test providers for the CSOC and SSIC? The test will be conducted by the current Approved Training Providers (ATPs) offering the respective courses. Currently, the ATPs conducting CSOC are NTUC Learning Hub, CITI and SCAL. NTUC Learning Hub, ST Marine, Jurong Shipyard, Sembawang Shipyard and Keppel Shipyard are offering SSIC. An updated list of course and test providers will also be published on the MOM website. 3

4 13 What are the test fees and will it be the same for all test providers of CSOC and SSIC? The test fees will vary depending on the services offered by the different ATPs. A full list of test fees offered by the different ATPs will be published on the MOM website by mid May What happens if the ATPs are unable to provide a training place within 2 weeks even when I try to register early for CSOC or SSIC? Employers should not face such a problem if they register their workers upon the confirmation of the workers arrival date. MOM will work with the ATPs to ensure that there is sufficient training capacity. 15 Can a worker who has passed the CSOC or SSIC use the certificate to apply for a work permit to work for another employer while the certification is still valid? This is possible if the remaining validity of the certificate is more than a month. 16 Will new foreign workers be able to get their work permits as soon as they undergo CSOC or SSIC? Workers will be able to get their work permit as soon as they fulfill all the prevailing work permit requirements. Sitting for the CSOC/SSIC is one of the requirements. 17 How can employers get help on training their workers? Employers can approach any of the ATPs to sign up for basic WSH courses for their workers. MOM will also be publicising a set of training materials and test questions on the MOM website to facilitate employers in training their workers in WSH competencies. 4

5 18 How will employers know when their workers are due to be recertified for CSOC and SSIC? Employers are responsible for ensuring that their workers certificates are valid at all times. A reminder will be sent to the employers at least 1 month prior to the expiry of their workers certificate. 19 What are the penalties if my company is not able to comply with the new training requirements for CSOC and SSIC? Other than the revocation of the FW s work permit, the Ministry may also reject applications for new WPs or WP renewal by employers who repeatedly fail to comply with the requirements. Employers can also be taken to task under the WSH Act for failing to ensure that their workers have completed the CSOC/SSIC before performing work for which the training is required. 5