A sudden phone call: “It’s time to renew.”
Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
The other day, I got a call on my cell phone.
"It's time to renew your Construction Career Up System (CCUS) registration. What would you like to do?"
We’ve outsourced all our registration matters to a certified administrative scrivener, but since the registration is in my name, they contact me directly.
"I've been trying to reach you several times..." he said in a slightly sharp tone.
My administrative scrivener was saying that he really wishes they’d stop with this whole “qualification business” that’s just a way to force professionals who can’t make a living to somehow scrape by… lol
Our legal advisor, a certified administrative scrivener, said he didn't want to do it, lol.
The Career Advancement System is also recommended by administrative scriveners lol
"It's optional," they say... If I could quit, I'd quit.
It just slipped out before I knew it.
"Isn't this update mandatory!?"
Then, I was surprised by the one thing he said in response.
「CCUS is optional, so you can opt out at any time."With a cheerful, smiling vibe!"
…Please wait a moment.
If I could quit, I would have quit a long time ago.
So far, I haven't felt any benefits at all from being a subcontractor!
Despite this, when we bid on public works projects, general contractors who use CCUS tell us it’s “mandatory.”
If you go to a major construction site, there are times when you won't be allowed in without it, and I've actually been turned away because of this in the past!
Two or three times a year, situations like that suddenly arise.
Stray Metal!It feels kind of rare, lol
To be honest, that’s the real reason I keep it up.
It's supposed to be optional, but it's actually mandatory.
They say you can't get in without connections at the major general contractors or subcontractors.
Conversely, they, too, are influenced by an invisible force...
Is it really “voluntary”? As long as there are technical interns, it’s impossible.
This is the key point!
We have a technical intern at our company.
TheyEnrollment is mandatory, not optionalWe have to do it.
Pursuant to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Notice (Reiwa 1 Notice No. 269), effective January 1, Reiwa 2, businesses that accept foreign technical interns mustCCUS Registration Becomes Mandatory for Both Operators and Individualsis being done (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) Construction Career Advancement System Portal）。
In other words, if you employ even a single foreign worker, the option to “quit” disappears altogether.
The administrators just casually brush it off, saying, “It’s optional, after all.”
You’re probably thinking, “Haaaaaa!?”!!
This temperature difference… I wonder what’s going on.
Carrots for the general contractor, burdens for the subcontractors
Here's another contradiction.
When a general contractor utilizes CCUS,Bonus Points in the Business Management Review (Keishin)will be done.
If implemented in all recent public works projects, 10 points are awarded; if private-sector projects are included as well, 15 points are awarded (source: Nikkan Kensetsu Kogyo Shimbun and Construction Industry Promotion Fund).
Since these scores determine the bid ranking, it makes sense that the general contractor would be so determined.
Well, of course they're going to demand, "Subcontractors, you better get on board with CCUS, too."
But here's the thing: it's the general contractor who installs the card reader.
All we subcontractors have to do is tap our cards.
And yet, it’s the field staff who have to pay both the registration and renewal fees.
Of course, I support any system that raises the status of artisans.
But,We're the ones paying for this, but we're not seeing any results.。
Isn't this turning into a "system where we end up paying for something we don't even want"?
Once you've earned enough points, you can get a drink or something...
I don't need that!!
Who is this for?
What kind of system is this—who is it supposed to feed!???
Huh?
That's weird~~~~~?
You'd think that, just like Conan, right...?
Registration numbers are on the rise. But on the ground, it’s a different story.
Looking at the numbers, CCUS is certainly gaining ground.
According to the monthly operational report of the Construction Industry Promotion Fund (released on April 14, 2026),As of March 31, 2026, the cumulative number of registered skilled workers was approximately 1.818 million, and the number of registered businesses was approximately 309,000.. Since the total number of skilled workers in the construction industry is said to be about 3 million,More than one in two people (about 61%)This is the calculation based on the registered data.
By the way, even if we look at Aichi Prefecture alone, there are approximately 114,000 registered skilled workers and about 22,000 companies (approximately 13,000 of which are companies other than sole proprietorships).
The number of skilled workers has increased by more than 4,300 over the past five months. Judging by the numbers alone, we’re definitely in the adoption phase.
However, this is where the problem lies.
March 2026There are approximately 5.72 million monthly employment records.. When calculated on a per-registered technician basis,Only about three times a monthThat means the calculation shows that only the history has been accumulated.
Even though there are 1.81 million cardholders, each person only uses their card three times a month...
To begin with, nobody uses it...
In short, while most locations have registered, the vast majority do not have card readers installed.
At this rate, I don't think there's any way to advance my career or get a promotion.
The full subsidy for competency assessment fees, which began in August 2025, has also been extended “for the time being” (Construction Industry Promotion Fund: Latest Topics), and the government is desperately trying to boost the industry.
Still, the reality is that the actual conditions on the ground don't match up.
Please integrate it with the My Number Card and Green Site.
I’ve written a lot so far, but I don’t reject the concept of CCUS itself.
Helping young skilled workers envision their careers and making their abilities visible—I believe this is essential.
However, the way things stand now, no matter how I look at it,Becoming a mere formalityI wonder if there's a possibility.
Personally, I think they should integrate it with the My Number Card.
Please set up data integration with GreenSite as well to eliminate duplicate data entry.
(There are already examples of this being implemented through API integrations with services such as Buildee.)
Make it so I can use it for all kinds of things!!
Since personal information is leaking all over the place anyway, wouldn't it be better to just release the API so that various companies can use it in their operations?? lol
Should we just keep dragging our feet and leaving it optional, or should we take the plunge and make it effectively mandatory?
If we don't get a clear decision from one side or the other soon, it's just going to create more trouble on the ground.
Just from that one line on the phone—“It’s optional”—the conversation has blown way out of proportion. It’s so infuriating lol
It's just a blog where I vent... lol
But I think any business that pays money to CCUS every year probably feels the same sense of unease.
See you later.
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