2
MONDAY, AUGUST 9, 1976
+LASTLY, TO SHIPOWNERS THEY ENSURE THAT THE EXISTENCE OF WHAT CASUAL VACANCIES THEY HAVE IS KNOWN TO AS LARGE A BODY OF POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES AS POSSIBLE AND NOT ONLY TO A FEW FAVOURED
INDIVIDUALS. IN THIS CONTEXT FIGURES PRODUCED BY THE SRO INDICATE THAT, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF POSTS FOR NAVIGATING OFFICERS, IN ALL OTHER SHIP BOARD DEPARTMENTS EMPLOYERS MAY EXPECT TO BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW AT LEAST TWO OR THREE SEAMEN AND SOMETIMES MORE FOR EVERY VACANCY NOTIFIED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE CONTINUED: +THE SEAMEN'S RECRUITING AUTHORITY RECOGNISES, HOWEVER, THAT THE REVISED PROCEDURES MAY BE CAPABLE OF IMPROVEMENT AND THAT THERE HAS BEEN A DEGREE OF OPPOSITION TO THE IR IMPLEMENTATION ON THE PART OF EMPLOYERS AND SOME SEAMEN.
+ IT IS ALSO RECOGNISED THAT IN RESPECT OF SOME SPECIALISED MANNING REQUIREMENTS THE SYSTEM MAY NOT NECESSARILY PRODUCE FOR SELECTION THE EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL REQUIRED.+
HE SAID THAT THE AUTHORITY INTENDED TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS CONDUCTED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SEAMEN'S RECRUITING OFFICE WITH EMPLOYERS AND ALSO WITH SEAMEN AND THEIR REPRESENTATIVES.
THE DISCUSSIONS WILL DETERMINE WAYS IN WHICH THE ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF THE REVISED PROCEDURES MAY BE ALTERED SO AS TO REMOVE SOME SOURCES OF MINOR DIFFICULTY AND MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SPECIALISED MANNING WHILST ENSURING THAT THE INTENTIONS BEHIND THEIR ADOPTION SHALL NOT BE NEGATED.
BETWEEN MAY 10, 1976, WHEN THE REVISED PROCEDURES WERE FIRST INTRODUCED, AND JULY 9, 1976, THE SRO WAS ADVISED OF 1,644 JOB VACANCIES BY COMPANIES OPERATING LICENSED CREW DEPARTMENTS AND COMPANY ROSTERS.
A TOTAL OF 1,764 SEAMEN APPLIED TO THE OFFICE FOR S.R. 10 FORMS, ENABLING THEM TO BE INTERVIEWED FOR THESE JOBS, AND 1,323 OF THEM WERE SUCCESSFUL IN OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT.
THE REVISED PROCEDURES LEADING TO THE SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT OF SEAMEN HAVE APPLIED ONLY TO THAT SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SEAMEN EMPLOYED OUT OF HONG KONG, WHO HAVE NOT, SINCE THEIR DISCHARGE FROM THEIR LAST EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, REMAINED LISTED WITH A PARTICULAR LICENSED CREW DEPARTMENT OR COMPANY ROSTER.
THUS, APPROXIMATELY 5 PER CENT OF SEAMEN NOW EMPLOYED OUT OF HONG KONG HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REVISED PROCEDURES IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF OPERATION.
THEY WILL NOT AFFECT SEAMEN WHO REMAIN LISTED WITH LICENSED CREW DEPARTMENTS OR WITH COMPANY ROSTERS WHEN THEIR CURRENT ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT (SERVICE AGREEMENTS) TERMINATE.
13