MONDAY, MARCH 4, 1985
'MODEST GROWTH' IN AUTO WORKERS
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THE WORKFORCE IN THE COMMERCIAL AND PASSENGER VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SECTOR WOULD CONTINUE TO GROW AT A MODEST RATE ACCORDING TO THE 1984 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS AND BETTER ROAD SYSTEMS, THE INCREASING USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND THE INCREASE IN HONG KONG-BASED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES OVER THE BORDER WOULD RESULT IN GREATER DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, SAID THE REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.
HOWEVER, THE MANPOWER REQUIRED IN THE PRIVATE CAR MAINTENANCE SECTOR WOULD REMAIN STAGNANT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF THE PRIVATE CARS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TRAINING BOARD SAID.
THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT SINCE THE GOVERNMENT TOOK MEASURES TO CURB THE GROWTH OF PRIVATE CARS IN 1982, THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY WORKFORCE DECREASED FROM 13 300 IN 1982 TO 12 200 IN 1984.
BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, THE BOARD ALSO FORECAST THAT AN ADDITIONAL 370 CRAFTSMEN, 40 TECHNICIANS AND SIX TECHNOLOGISTS WOULD BE REQUIRED EACH YEAR UP TO 1990 TO MEET THE MANPOWER DEMAND FOR THE INDUSTRY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE, ADMINISTERED BY THE BOARD, WOULD PROVIDE ONE-YEAR BASIC SKILL TRAINING IN SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR TO SOME 310 CRAFT AND 30 TECHNICIAN TRAINEES ANNUALLY.
THE BOARD CONSIDERED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRAINING CENTRE WOULD BRING ABOUT A REGULAR SUPPLY OF PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIAN AND CRAFT TRAINEES, HE ADDED.
THE 1984 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $9.50 A COPY.
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