RETRENCHED WORKERS IN PRIVATE SECTOR (Retraining schemes)

Mr Eric Cheong Yuen Chee asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour whether the Government proposes to provide a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector similar to that offered to retrenched workers of the British military establishments.

Mr Sia Kah Hui (for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Labour): Sir, the magnitude of the redundancy problem affecting some 30,000 civilian employees in the British Armed Forces has made it imperative to organise a retraining scheme for these workers to fit them for alternative employment. This does not necessarily mean that all employees declared redundant can be retrained. The limited resources of the Technical Education Department are at the moment fully taken up in this task. It must be pointed out that the cost of training is high and, therefore, it is the intention of the Government to recover the training cost from the British Government under the special aid scheme.

The Government does not propose to provide a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector because the number involved is very small. Further, a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector would call for the provision of substantial funds. This being so, it may well be necessary for training costs to be paid by the workers themselves. The hon. Member will appreciate that, taking the circumstances as a whole, there is no urgent need for a retraining scheme for retrenched workers in the private sector at the moment.