7
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982
EFFECTS OF APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL ON EMPLOYERS
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AN UNOFFICIAL, MR S.L. CHEN, EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE APPRENTICESHIP (AMENDMENT) BILL WOULD HAVE ON EMPLOYERS OF APPRENTICES IN DESIGNATED TRADES.
THE BILL, WHICH WAS PASSED TODAY, IS AIMED AT TRANSFERRING CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE TO THE NEW VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AND THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR CHEN SAID THAT UP UNTIL NOW, EMPLOYERS HAD ONLY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO DEAL WITH.
+BUT WITH PROPOSED TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY FROM THE COMMISSIONER TO THE DIRECTOR FOR SOME OF THE PROVISIONS AND THE RETENTION OF THE COMMISSIONER AS THE AUTHORITY FOR THE OTHERS, NOTABLY REGULATIONS 8, 9, 10 AND 11, WILL IT MEAN THAT IN FUTURE EMPLOYERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH MORE THAN ONE AUTHORITY AND POSSIBLY BE VISITED BY INSPECTORS OF BOTH DEPARTMENTS IN RESPECT OF EVERY REGISTERED APPRENTICE?+ HE ASKED.
+ IF THIS IS THE CASE, I AM AFRAID THAT THE ADDITIONAL RED TAPE WOULD, I HAVE NO DOUBT, DETER EMPLOYERS FROM TAKING ON YOUNG PEOPLE FOR TRAINING.
+1 WOULD THEREFORE LIKE TO HAVE AN ASSURANCE FROM GOVERNMENT THAT THIS IS NOT ITS INTENTION AND THAT SUCH A SITUATION WILL NOT ARISE IN FUTURE.+
MR CHEN ALSO CRITICISED CLAUSE 10 WHICH EMPOWERS THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING TO MAKE REGULATIONS ONLY +WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER+,
HE POINTED OUT THAT THERE IS ALREADY A PROVISION IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WHEREBY ALL REGULATIONS HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+1 HAVE GRAVE DOUBTS IN THE WISDOM OF USING THE PHRASE "WITH THE APPROVAL OF AS IT MAY UNNECESSARILY TIE THE HANDS, AS IT WERE, OF THE DIRECTOR.
+I SUGGEST THEREFORE THAT IT WOULD BE MORE APPROPRIATE TO REPLACE THE WORDS WITH THE APPROVAL OF' BY IN CONSULTATION WITH' IN CLAUSE 10, + MR CHEN SAID.
/IN REPLY TO