CAMPAIGN Counterfeit qualification cards


n By Hajera Blagg


FAKE CARDS ARE BAD NEWS


Unite warns over the serious dangers of fake CSCS cards


Unite has sounded the alarm bell over counterfeit CSCS and other qualification cards.


Although it has long been an issue that has plagued the industry, Unite branch activist Trevor Simpson believes the problem has only worsened as counterfeits become ever-more sophisticated.


Trevor drew a distinction between counterfeits – fake cards often produced by criminal gangs – and the fraudulent use of genuine cards. “There are many more counterfeit cards than there are fraudulently used cards,” Trevor said.


Counterfeit cards can be used by gangmasters to get unlawful workers on site who in effect become modern- day slaves. Those without the right to work in the UK also sometimes seek these cards themselves.


To a lesser extent, they’re used by UK workers who want easier and cheaper access to the right cards. A separate issue is workers not having the correct cards for their specific jobs.


In the last few weeks alone, Trevor has personally come across two instances of counterfeit cards and one instance of fraudulent use. “One counterfeit card was the most sophisticated I’ve ever seen,” he noted.


Trevor also highlighted that CSCS has put many safeguards in place


18 unite buildingWORKER Autumn 2024


for companies to detect counterfeit cards, including a CSCS smart check app.


There is compliance among the main construction sites, which has improved further after the Building Safety Act was introduced in 2022. This legislation has placed a stricter onus on employers to check workers’ competence.


But the highest rates of non- compliance are among smaller construction sites.


“These sites simply don’t have the controls in place, and many workers will always seek the easiest route to get on-site,” Trevor said.


Ultimately, counterfeit and fraudulent cards are a safety issue for all workers, Trevor emphasised.


“People might say that stopping workers from coming on-site with the right competence for the trade stops people from earning a living. But if you’re not trained and competent in your work, you put everyone else on-site at risk.”


He gave the example of unqualified workers operating plant machinery on sites, which, he said, “can literally become killing machines.


“This also applies to many safety- critical trades. Competency needs to be checked to protect our members.”


Trevor noted the government must also look at the bigger picture. “It needs to get serious about funding for training. The CITB is sitting on millions of pounds through the apprenticeship levy but they’re not releasing the funding. Smaller companies can’t access it.


“Companies are simply not paying for training. We have a huge shortage of qualified workers, which is compounded by an ageing workforce. With the right training provision in place, we must ensure that anyone who wants to pursue a career in construction is supported and given the opportunity.”


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32