The new regime will take effect from next February and will see the initial labourers card reduce from five years to two years.

The move is designed to encourage new construction entrants to sign-up to the CSCS trainee red cards instead and continue their skills development rather than remain at labourer level.

Garry Mortimer, Executive Director of Operations at CSCS Cards Limited said: “The competence of the construction workforce is at the heart of the Building Safety Act.

“These changes better align with the competency expectations of the Act as they will encourage more new entrants to start their career not on the Labourer card, but on one of CSCS’s red cards, which demonstrate to employers that the card holder is on a recognised training pathway that supports long-term career progression.”

The CSCS said labourer cards are currently “oversupplied” with 500,000 currently in circulation.

Mortimer said: “Our data shows that 85% of labourers do not renew their card, and feedback from employers highlights many workers leave the industry long before their labourer cards expire.

“By reducing the labourer card’s initial validity to two years, we can better track the actual number of active labourers in the sector. The requirement for proof of working in a labouring role upon renewal will ensure the card is no longer used as the default easy option for site access.”