Labour Department suspends safety course after exam answers leaked

The Labour Department on Monday suspended recognition of a construction safety training course run by Hong Kong Unity Construction Workmate Home Limited for six months, until September 8, after the provider was found to have disclosed examination questions and answers to trainees.

The department said the course provider had breached approval conditions for operating the Mandatory Basic Safety Training Course (Construction Work), commonly known as the Green Card Course.

The violations included an instructor revealing all examination questions and answers to trainees before the test, failing to conduct post-examination reviews, and organizing activities unrelated to safety training. Invigilators were also found to have failed to detect cheating by a trainee during the examination.

Following an investigation and consideration of explanations from the course provider and the instructor involved, the department deemed the case serious and imposed the six-month suspension. The instructor concerned has also been disqualified from teaching the relevant courses at the organization.

At the department’s request, the provider revoked and canceled 18 Green Cards. Another seven cards that have not been retrieved have also been invalidated.

A department spokesman said the authority is highly concerned about the quality of mandatory safety training courses. He added that the department has increased manpower to monitor course providers and ensure compliance with approval requirements since April 2025, following the Ombudsman’s recommendations in its direct investigation into the “Government's Regulation of Occupational Safety and Health in the Construction Industry.”

The spokesman stressed that course providers that fail to comply with approval conditions may have their recognition revoked or suspended. The Labour Department will continue to closely monitor all recognized course providers and instructors to enhance occupational safety and health standards in Hong Kong.