XN000022-1979-07-16 — Page 7

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MONDAY, JULY 16, 1979

FIVE MORE TRADES DESIGNATED UNDER APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE

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THE PROMOTION OF APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IN HONG KONG TOOK ANOTHER STEP FORWARD TODAY (MONDAY) WITH THE INCLUSION OF FIVE MORE CRAFT TRADES IN THE COMPULSORY APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME.

THE TRADES ARE THOSE OF CARPENTER/JOINER, PAINTER/DECORATOR/ SIGN WRITER, WOOD FURNITURE MAKER, METAL FURNITURE MAKER AND PAINTER/DECORATOR (FURNITURE).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THAT THE TRADES MAVE BEEN SPECIFIED BY THE GOVERNOR ON THE ADVICE OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AS DESIGNATED TRADES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE. THE IR APPRENTICESHIP PERIOD IS THREE YEARS.

THE LATEST INCLUSION HAS BROUGHT THE NUMBER OF TRADES DESIGNATED UNDER THE PROVISION OF THE ORDINANCE TO 36.

+IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PROMOTE APPRENTICE TRAINING IN TRADES VITAL TO HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES AND TO ENSURE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE SAID THE ORDINANCE AFFECTS THE EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING OF YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 18.

IT STIPULATES THAT AN EMPLOYER CAN ONLY ENGAGE A YOUNG PERSON IN A DESIGNATED TRADE IF THE YOUNG PERSON HAS ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT OR HAS COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP IN THAT TRADE AND HOLDS A CERTIFICATE. BUT THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR HAS POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTION IN CERTAIN CASES.

THE SPOKESMAN ADVISED EMPLOYERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE NEWLY DESIGNATED TRADES TO PREPARE THEMSELVES TO COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE AND TO ENTER INTO CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP WITH THEIR YOUNG WORKERS.

A CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP REGISTERED WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE APPRENTICE WILL BE GIVEN ADEQUATE TRAINING, INCLUDING ATTENDANCE AT HIS EMPLOYER'S EXPENSE IN A TECHNICAL COURSE RELATED TO HIS TRADE IN

A GOVERNMENT TECHNICAL INSTITUTE. THE CONTRACT WILL ALSO HELP PROTECT THE EMPLOYER FROM LOSING HIS APPRENTICE TO ANOTHER EMPLOYER.

EMPLOYERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE ENGAGED IN THE FIVE TRADES WHO HAVE ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE ORDINANCE SHOULD CONTACT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION ON 5-280545, 3-219285, 3-667463, 12-297039 OR 3-440838.

THEY CAN ALSO CALL AT THE DIVISION'S FIVE OFFICES IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, WANCHA | PARIS THEATRE BUILDING, 7 KING UK STREET, SAN PO KONG- SALISBURY ROAD, TSIMSHATSUÏ (OPPOSITE SHERATON HOTEL)- 31 SHING FONG STREET, FIFTH FLOOR KWAI CHUNG AND YEN HAU MANSION, 100 TING FU STREET, THIRD FLOOR, KWUN TONG.

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