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THURSDAY, AUGUST 31, 1978
APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME FOR CONSTRUCTION CRAFT TRADES EFFECTIVE FROM TOMORROW
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EMPLOYERS IN THE CONSTRUCTION CRAFT TRADES OF BRICKLAYER/ PLASTERER/TILER, BAMBOO SCAFFOLDER AND PLUMBER ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP WITH EMPLOYEES BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 18 AS FROM TOMORROW (FRIDAY).
THE TRADES HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNOR UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME ON THE ADVICE OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL. THIS BRINGS THE NUMBER OF DESIGNATED TRADES UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE TO 31.
THE APPRENTICESHIP PERIOD FOR THE THREE NEW TRADES HAS BEEN SPECIFIED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AS THREE YEARS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY: IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO PROMOTE APPRENTICE TRAINING IN TRADES WHICH ARE VITAL TO HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES AND TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER IN THESE TRADES.+
HE POINTED OUT THAT CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP MUST BE MADE IN THE SPECIFIED FORM AND REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SO THAT THE APPRENTICES WILL BE GIVEN PROPER TRAINING.
THIS WOULD RESULT IN BETTER-TRAINED CRAFTSMEN, HE SAID, AND AT THE SAME TIME A CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD ALSO HELP PROTECT THE EMPLOYER FROM LOSING HIS APPRENTICE TO ANOTHER EMPLOYER.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR HAS THE POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTION IN CERTAIN CASES SUCH AS IF HE IS SATISFIED THAT THE YOUNG PERSON HAS UNDERGONE SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN A PARTICULAR TRADE.
ANYONE REQUIRING INFORMATION ON THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE OR APPRENTICE TRAINING SHOULD CONTACT OFFICERS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, WAN CHAI (TEL. 5-280545) OR PARIS THEATRE BUILDING, 7 KING FUK STREET, GROUND FLOOR, SAN PO KONG (TEL. 3-219285).
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