Agreement to ensure mobility of construction labour

The Construction Skills Register (CSR) has signed a mutual recognition agreement with Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) - the equivalent scheme in Great Britain – in a move that will ensure the mobility of construction workers throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking at the formal signing ceremony, which was hosted by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the President of the Construction Employers Federation, Mr John Gillvray, said: “For the first time in our industry, the CSR provides a clear career path for on site operatives in construction. It also ensures that standards are raised in the industry because all CSR cardholders have received proper health and safety training. This now means that some 270,000 construction workers throughout the UK and Ireland are registered and working to a common set of standards.”

The agreement with CSCS in Great Britain and with FAS in the Republic of Ireland, means that construction operatives holding either a CSR card, a CSCS card, or a Safepass card will be able to work throughout the UK and Ireland and enjoy the benefit of their skills recognition and training to proper standards for health and safety on construction sites.

Also commenting on the move, CSCS Chairman Tony Merricks said: "This affiliation between CSCS and CSR is a giant step forward in increasing the number of construction operatives who will have their skills formerly recognised. It will also mean that there will be greater freedom of labour movement between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland. We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with CSR to achieve a fully competent workforce.

"Construction clients want to be assured that people working on their sites are fully qualified and have sound health and safety awareness. A CSCS card or CSCS-affiliated CSR card is the best way of proving this.”

The Construction Skills Register (CSR) was established in 1997 to recognise the achievement of skills and Health and Safety training in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland.

An agreement with the FAS Safepass Scheme, which is the equivalent scheme for the Republic of Ireland, was also recently signed between CSR and FAS.

(CL)