XN000022-1983-09-07 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1983

MANPOWER SURVEY OF CLOTHING INDUSTRY STARTING

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A MANPOWER SURVEY OF THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY ORGANISED BY THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WILL BE CONDUCTED FROM TOMORROW (SEPTEMBER 8) TO SEPTEMBER 16.

+ IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE CURRENT ECONOMIC RECOVERY HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE REMARKABLE GROWTH IN THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY, + A SPOKESMAN OF THE TRAINING BOARD SAID.

+THE INDUSTRY'S UPTURN IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE, JUDGED BY THE INCREASING NUMBER OF OVERSEAS ORDERS RECEIVED, HE SAID.

+THE TIGHTENING MANPOWER SUPPLY HAS BEEN FELT AT ALL LEVELS, FROM TECHNICIANS TO UNSKILLED WORKERS, HE ADDED.

THE SURVEY IS IMPORTANT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF RECOMMENDATIONS ON MANPOWER TRAINING.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED MANUFACTURERS SELECTED FOR THE SURVEY TO CO-OPERATE BY GIVING ACCURATE INFORMATION.

HE STRESSED THAT THE DATA COLLECTED WOULD BE HANDLED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE AND WOULD BE PUBLISHED ONLY IN THE FORM OF STATISTICAL SUMMARIES WITHOUT REFERENCE TO INDIVIDUAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

QUESTIONNAIRES AND EXPLANATORY LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO

ABOUT 850 CLOTHING ESTABLISHMENTS SELECTED AT RANDOM.

OFFICERS OF THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT WILL CALL AT THESE FACTORIES DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD TO COLLECT THE QUESTIONNAIRES AND PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN COMPLETING THEM.

ALSO HELPING WITH THE SURVEY ARE THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT AND THE GOVERNMENT DATA PROCESSING AGENCY.

TIMBER AND FURNITURE MEASURES TO GO METRIC

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THE TIMBER AND FURNITURE INDUSTRIES WILL BE THE NEXT TO GO METRIC FOLLOWING THE ELECTRIC WIRES AND CABLES TRADE, THE METRICATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCED TODAY.

AS FROM TOMORROW (THURSDAY), LINEAR MEASUREMENTS COMMONLY USED IN THE TIMBER AND FURNITURE INDUSTRIES WILL BE EXPRESSED IN METRES AND MILLIMETRES RATHER THAN IN FEET AND INCHES.

TO FACILITATE THE ADOPTION OF METRIC UNITS BY THESE TWO INDUSTRIES, TWO POSTERS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED BY THE COMMITTEE.

COPIES OF THE POSTERS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS FOR DISPLAY IN WORKSHOPS AND TO TIMBER MILLS AND RETAIL SHOPS FOR THE INFORMATION OF THEIR WORKERS.

/THE FEDERATION