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17.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 1985
FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY EEDS MORE SKILLED WORKERS
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MANUFACTURERS HAVE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTIES IN RECRUITING YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY.
THIS AMONG THE FINDINGS CONTAINED IN A MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT JUST PUBLISHED BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
IF THIS SITUATION COULD NOT BE RECTIFIED IN TIME, THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY WOULD BE FACED WITH A MORE SEVERE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MANPOWER WHEN THE PRESENT OLDER WORKERS RETIRE, ACCORDING TO THE REPORT.
+THEREFORE, THE PROVISION OF PROPER MANPOWER TRAINING IS TIMELY AND VITAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY,+ SAID MR FRANCIS TIEN, CHAIRMAN OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD.
AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD START IMMEDIATELY TO ORGANISE TRAINING SCHEMES FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES OR TO SPONSOR THEM TO ATTEND RELATED TRAINING COURSES IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES, HE SAID.
AT THE TIME OF THE SURVEY, THE INDUSTRY EMPLOYED ABOUT
8 743 WORKERS AND 50 TRAINEES OR APPRENTICES.
SOME 7 307 OF THEM WERE EMPLOYED IN THE SHOE AND SOFT-SOLE BRANCHES, REPRESENTING ABOUT 83.5 PER CENT OF THE INDUSTRY'S TOTAL WORK FORCE WHILE THE REMAINING 16.5 PER CENT, NUMBERING ABOUT 1 446 WORKERS, WERE WITH THE RUBBER SHOE BRANCH.
IT IS FORECAST THAT OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE FOR THE INDUSTRY'S MANPOWER WILL BE ONE PER CENT AT THE TECHNICIAN, 1.1 PER CENT AT THE CRAFTSMAN AND 1.1 PER CENT AT THE OPERATIVE LEVEL.
BUT AT THE TECHNOLOGIST LEVEL, IT IS EXPECTED TO REMA IN STABLE, THE REPORT SAYS.
TO COPE WITH FUTURE DEVELOPMENT, THE BOARD SUPPORTED
A PROPOSAL FROM THE HONG KONG RUBBER AND FOOTWEAR MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION FOR SETTING UP TWO OPERATIVE TRAINING COURSES AT THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY.
THE LEE WAI LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE OFFERS COURSES AT TECHNICIAN AND CRAFT LEVELS FOR THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY. THE REPORT URGES EMPLOYERS TO USE THE FACILITIES IN THIS INSTITUTE BY SPONSORING THE IR EMPLOYEES TO ATTEND THESE COURSES.
THE PROPOSED METHODS FOR TRAINING THE MANPOWER REQUIRED, STATISTICAL DATA ON THE MANPOWER SITUATION OF THE INDUSTRY AND OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TRAINING BOARD ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE REPORT.
THE REPORT IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $11.50 A COPY.
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