EMPLOYMENT
45
In 1973 the building trades, textiles and printing industrial committees conducted the second manpower surveys of their respective industries, and the plastics, clothing, and electrical apparatus and appliances industrial committees were in the process of compiling reports on the second manpower surveys. The printing and shipbuilding and ship repairs industrial committees continued with their preparation of minimum job standards and specification for principal jobs in their industries.
In the field of pre-vocational and vocational training, a number of centres offering training in technical, commercial and catering trades are run by voluntary welfare organisations and the government. Committees of the ITAC complex have played an active role in co-ordinating and raising the standards of training in these centres.
In addition to the existing Morrison Hill Technical Institute, the government has, in line with the recommendations made by ITAC, decided to build another four technical institutes by 1977. The need for expanding the pre-vocational education programme was also under consideration by the government.
The apprenticeship training unit of the Labour Department continued with its work of encouraging and assisting employers to set up proper apprenticeship schemes for training craftsmen and technicians. This year, 40 more firms have started technician training in the electronics, building, textiles and garment industries. These companies also provided craft training in the metal working, printing, electrical, plastics, ship- building and ship repairs, and automobile servicing industries. Some 2,300 apprentices, both technician and craft are currently engaged under modern apprenticeship schemes recommended by the apprenticeship training unit.
Technical education on a day-release basis forms an essential part of the appren- ticeship scheme proposed by the Labour Department. Part-time day-release courses for both technician and craft apprentices are provided by the Hong Kong Poly- technic and the Morrison Hill Technical Institute.
11