Unregistered ironworkers can't work

Bar benders who have not registered as construction workers would not have been allowed to work today even if pay talks had ended in their favour.

The Construction Workers Registration Authority had received 191,465 applications by yesterday and issued 180,093 licences. It was unclear how many were ironworkers. Authority deputy secretary John Wong Chi-wing said half of the licensed workers were skilled and semi-skilled workers - a category including bar benders.

Earlier, Lam Kwok-ning, secretary for the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union under the Federation of Trade Unions, said only 300 iron workers requested their help to register.

There are about 3,000 active bar benders. Mr Wong said unlicensed workers could be prosecuted if they were found working but inspectors could also give them a warning.

Anita Lam