No_4_December_1964 — Page 87

population then was in the unem- ployable age group of 14 years and under.

In due course, with sufficient skill- ed labour becoming available, it might be possible to do away with the prevailing system of piece-work through labour sub-contractors and to offer steady employment with in- centives such as trips to England.

The current demands by skilled workers for increased wages points to the need for more security, more leisure. (see adjacent table).

Mr. T. S. Wong, one of the leading members of the Building Contractors' Association, said recently that the issues of education and training of tradesmen were vital to the existence of the industry.

"The sooner we face up to them the less painful will it be," he said.

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Mr. Wong felt that many of the youngsters who graduated from the Training Centre 100 the first year and perhaps 200 the second could be initially channelled into low cost Government housing projects where the work would be less complicated.

"Let us hope that Government will give consideration to helping us." It has already helped us in making space available for the Centre.”

Among those at the opening of the Training Centre were, from left to right. (seating) Messrs. D.D. Waters (H. K. Technical College), Lam Chik Suen, Daniel N. F. Chen, Ng Wing Hong, Lai Cheung; (Standing) Messrs. Chow Wing Lau, C. P. Louie, Henry Tang, (the Principal), John Poon, J.B. Atkinson (P. W. D.), Dr. S. H. Pang (Y. M. C. A.) and Mr. Kenneth C.'K. Chung.

WAGE BREAKDOWN

Total value of all building and civil engineering construction carried out during the financial year 1962/63 (compiled from figures given in Departmental Reports of the PWD. R & V and Housing Authority) and rounded off

Less 15% for overheads, site supervision, general

contractors' sundry labour and profit Nett cost of materials and daily labour Assuming the labour content as being 35% then

the cost of daily labour would be

The labour force employed in the Construction Industry during 1962/63 (Labour Department)

was

Less those directly employed by General Contractors and whose wages are included in the 15% above

say

Nett labour force employed This can be sub-divided into:

$ 900,000,000.00

135,000,000.00 $ 765,000,000.00

$ 267,750,000.00

113,000.00

13,000.00

100,000.00

unskilled labour

50,000.00

semi-skilled labour

30,000.00

skilled labour

20,000.00

If we take the average annual wage of the unskilled labourer as being X, that of the semi-skilled labourer as being 1.3X, and that of the skilled labourer as being 2.33X. then we would get the following equation:-

=

$ 267,750,000.00

1.974.56

1,974.56

2,566.93

4,600.72

50000X + (30000 x 1.3X) + (20000 x 2.33X)

whence X = The average wage of the unskilled worker would be semi-skilled worker would be

skilled worker would be

and if we take the average number of days worked per annum by the skilled worker as being 300 then the average daily rate of wages would be It is a well known fact that in many cases the skilled worker earns (on piece work) anything up to $30.00 per day hence it would be quite obvious that the number of days worked per year by the average skilled worker must be somewhat less than 300 days, i.e. we have reduced productivity in the Industry.

15.33

THE HONG KONG & FAR EAST BUILDER—VOLUME 19. NUMBER 4

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