t
FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1992
ACCORDING TO MR CHAN, THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF RETRAINING IS TWOFOLD: IT SHOULD MEET THE ECONOMY'S NEED TO ALLEVIATE MANPOWER SHORTAGES IN GROWTH AREAS; AND IT SHOULD MEET WORKERS' NEED то BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED.
"THE DESIGN OF RETRAINING PROGRAMMES MUST THEREFORE BE PRACTICALLY-BASED, BEARING IN MIND THAT THEY HAVE TO SUIT WORKERS WHO HAVE LIMITED EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS OR WHOSE AGE IS A BARRIER TO ACQUISITION OF SOPHISTICATED SKILLS," HE SAID.
THE
THE GOVERNMENT WILL SEEK THE ADVICE OF TRAINING AUTHORITIES SUCH AS THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL AS WELL AS THE CO-OPERATION OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO IDENTIFY AND DESIGN PRACTICAL RETRAINING PROGRAMMES.
"SHORT CRASH COURSES WITH SUITABLE PRE-TRAINING COUNSELLING AND POST-TRAINING PLACEMENT SERVICES SHOULD FORM A USEFUL PACKAGE FOR IN-SERVICE WORKERS DISPLACED FROM THE INDUSTRIES WHICH ARE DECLINING IN TERMS OF THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THEY CAN OFFER IN HONG HE SAID.
KONG,"
APART FROM EXPANDING EXISTING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR WORKERS IN TRADES WHERE THERE ARE WELL-KNOWN MANPOWER SHORTAGES, NEW COURSES ARE BEING EXPLORED TO PRODUCE TRAINED MANPOWER TO MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS.
MR CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN SPENDING AT LEAST $200 MILLION A YEAR ON INDUSTRIAL TRAINING ALONE.
THE
THERE ARE ALSO SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EMPLOYERS TO FUND CLOTHING AND CONSTRUCTION TRAINING AUTHORITIES THROUGH AN
ESTABLISHED LEVY SYSTEM.
BUT TO CATER FOR A
SPECIAL RETRAINING PROGRAMME, EXTRA
RESOURCES WOULD BE REQUIRED, HE SAID.
THE
INTO
AT
TO ACQUIRE A NEW SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR RETRAINING PURPOSE, GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO REQUIRE EMPLOYERS WHO IMPORT LABOUR HONG KONG TO PAY A LEVY IN RESPECT OF EACH WORKER THAT HE IMPORTS, THE RATE OF $400 PER WORKER PER MONTH MULTIPLIED BY THE NUMBER OF MONTHS STIPULATED IN THE RELEVANT CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.
AN EMPLOYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY THE LEVY UPON THE ALLOCATION OF A QUOTA TO HIM.
IN THIS CONNECTION, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS то SET UP A STATUTORY FUND TO BE MANAGED BY A BOARD COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS THE TRAINING AUTHORITIES.
"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE PROCEEDS OF THE LEVY ARE USED FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF AUGMENTING THE PROVISION OF AND RETRAINING TO THE LOCAL WORKFORCE," HE SAID.
RELEVANT
PROPERLY
TRAINING
HE ADDED THAT PENDING THE ENACTMENT OF THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION, A PROVISIONAL RETRAINING FUND BOARD WILL BE SET UP AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE SAME BASIS OF REPRESENTATION.
/"WE INTEND