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A ship repair training incentive scheme will be jointly launched tomorrow (August 1) by the Economic Development and Labour Bureau and the Vocational Training Council to attract more people of suitable calibre to join the ship repair industry to maintain the quality repair service for both visiting and local vessels plus strengthen Hong Kongˇ¦s position as an international maritime centre.
The scheme, with full support of the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council (MIC), aims to training welders to alleviate welding workforce shortage in the local maritime industry. There are two categories of people eligible for the scheme. One category is students who have completed a designated pre-employment course offered by a recognised training institute. Under the scheme, applicants are required to work in the ship repair industry by entering into a three-year apprenticeship contract with a local shipyard to undergo on-the-job welding training. Successful applicants will receive a monthly financial incentive of $1,500 during the three-year apprenticeship. At present, the recognised pre-employment course is the One-Year Course in Basic Craft Certificate in Welding and Fabrication offered by the Welding Training Centre (WETC) of the Vocational Training Council.
The other category is welding workers with relevant working experience from other industries. The scheme enables them to join the ship repair industry as skilled welders upon completion of relevant re-training. Under the scheme, applicants must first complete a ship repair re-training programme of not longer than one month recognised by the MIC and then be employed by a local shipyard. Successful applicants will receive a monthly financial incentive of $4,000 during a continuous 12-month employment period.
The scheme is administered by the Vocational Training Council, which will award incentives to successful applicants on a first-come-first-served basis. To help the industry better understand the Scheme, the council recently organised a briefing for the trade unions and shipyards on the details and to exchange views with them.
Those interested in joining the scheme can send their applications together with copies of relevant supporting documents to the Welding Training Centre, 7/F Kwai Chung Training Centre Complex, 13-19 San Kwai Street, Kwai Chung, Hong Kong. For enquiries, please call 2494 4273.
Ends/Monday, July 31, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:51
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