| General |
| Q1: |
Why
do we need CoreTrade? |
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The construction industry
plays a key role in shaping our built
environment, supporting Singapore’s 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.
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| Q2: |
Is
CoreTrade only for local workers? |
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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.
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| Q3: |
Is the
CoreTrade scheme going to increase construction
costs? |
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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.
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Registration |
| Q4: |
What are the benefits of this Scheme to the
workers? |
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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.
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| 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? |
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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.
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| Q6: |
What is a skills assessment? Is the skills
assessment compulsory for all applicants? |
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A skills assessment is a
practical-based verification of an applicant’s
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.
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| Q7: |
Can a Licensed Plumber or Licensed
Electrical Worker become a CoreTrade personnel? |
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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.
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| Q8: |
Can a construction foreman be registered as
a tradesman in the same trade? |
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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:
- Electrical works
- Plumbing and piping works
- Tiling and stone laying works
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| 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. |
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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.
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| Q10: |
What are the fees required for registration
and the skills assessment? |
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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.)
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| Q11: |
Why is the CoreTrade pass only valid for 2
years? |
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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.
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| 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? |
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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.
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| Q13: |
Will other trades such as plastering be
included in the CoreTrade scheme? |
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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.
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|
Deployment |
| Q14: |
Why does the
Main Contractor need to update the
deployment status of the registered
CoreTrade personnel in his projects?
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It is the main contractor’s
responsibility to regularly update the plan to
accurately reflect the deployment on site. When
BCA’s officers conduct site audits, they will
base their checks on CoreTrade personnel
deployment on the deployment plan submitted and
updated by the main contractor.
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| 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?
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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.
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| Q16: |
Can a CoreTrade personnel be concurrently
deployed in more than 1 project? |
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No. At any point in time, a CoreTrade
personnel can only be deployed in 1 project.
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| Q17: |
What happens if a Class 1 General
Builder is unable to meet the CoreTrade
requirements for his project?
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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 contractor’s
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.
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