The Labour Department (LD) today (March 9) suspended the recognition of the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work) (commonly known as the Green Card Course) organised by the Hong Kong Unity Construction Workmate Home Limited (HKUCWHL) under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) for a period of six months, until September 8, 2026.

     The LD found that the HKUCWHL had violated the approval conditions for operating the course, including a trainer disclosing all examination questions and answers to trainees before the examination, failing to conduct a post-examination review, and conducting activities not related to the safety training. In addition, invigilators failed to detect cheating by a trainee during the examination.

     After conducting thorough investigations and gathering evidence, and taking into account the explanations and representations provided by the HKUCWHL and the trainer involved, the LD decided to suspend its recognition of the Green Card Course for six months in view of the serious nature of the breaches. The trainer involved was also removed from delivering the respective course at the organisation. At the request of the LD, the HKUCWHL has recalled and cancelled 18 Green Cards. Seven Green Cards that have not yet been recalled have also been invalidated. The relevant Green Card numbers are listed in the Annex.

     A spokesman for the LD said, "The LD is highly concerned about the quality of mandatory safety training courses. In response to the recommendations in the report released by the Office of The Ombudsman on its direct investigation into the 'Government's Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry', the LD has increased manpower to monitor compliance with approval conditions by recognised training course providers, with a view to maintaining the standard of the training courses since April 2025 and ensuring workers receive appropriate occupational safety and health (OSH) training. If a training course provider does not comply with the approval conditions set by the LD, its recognition to operate the relevant courses will be withdrawn or suspended. The LD will continue to closely monitor the quality of all training course providers and their trainers and strive to enhance the standard of OSH in Hong Kong."

     ​After imposing the above sanctions, there are 123 training course providers offering the recognised Green Card Course. Relevant course information has been uploaded to the LD's website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/osh/content5.htm) for public reference. Individuals interested in enrolling may contact these training course providers. For enquiries, please call the LD's OSH Training Centre hotline at 2940 7064, or the department's OSH advisory service hotline at 2559 2297.

Ends/Monday, March 9, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:00

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